In a video captured by wildlife photographer Deep Kathikar at Maharashtra’s Tadoba National Park, a tiger retrieves a plastic bottle from a waterhole.
The video highlights the pervasive issue of plastic pollution, affecting even the most remote and pristine environments. Animals, including those in forests previously untouched by such waste, often come into contact with and ingest plastic, posing serious health risks.
Filmed in December 2023, Kathikar identifies the tiger as a cub of tigress Bhanuskhindi from the Ramdegi Hills, showcasing the young tiger carrying the bottle in its mouth. The video, bearing the caption “Sweet gesture by the Tiger. We will try to keep our jungles clean. Cub of Bhanuskhindi, Ramdegi Hills,” sparked varied reactions online, from alarm and sadness to calls for action on plastic pollution.
Comments ranged from admiration of the video’s powerful message and its potential for raising awareness to expressions of sorrow over the environmental impact of human actions and a collective urge for responsibility towards maintaining a cleaner, greener planet.
