Cricketer Rahul Dravid presenting the Wildlife Service Award 2018 to Forest Guard J. Yogaraja of Lakavalli range in Bhadra Tiger Reserve. In the middle is Forest Officer Manoj. | Photo Credit: G_P_Sampath Kumar more-in J. Yogaraja was presented the Wildlife Service Award, which carries a purse of Rs. 1 lakh, by the Cricketers For Tiger Conservation (CFTC) on Friday. He was responsible for the arrest for seven poachers in Lakavalli range in Bhadra Tiger Reserve. The forest official was felicitated by former Indian cricket team captain and national junior cricket team coach Rahul Dravid at Karnataka State Billiards Association. “My father was a forest watcher for 30 years. I have grown up listening to stories about his job. When I got the opportunity to be a forest guard, I was more than delighted. Crime against wildlife is a serious offence and convicting poachers is very difficult. I was very happy when we were able to get 3-year jail terms for seven poachers,” he said. Mr. Dravid said, “Cricket and wildlife conservation are two things I am very passionate about. Some of my best memories have been associated with the forests of Karnataka. What the Forest Department is doing to protect them is phenomenal. These men (forest guards) make a lot of sacrifices, staying away from their families. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude. Infusing cricket with this cause is commendable, as this sensitises children towards the need to conserve wildlife early on in their life.” Dravid also gave away awards to the winners and best performers of the ‘Tiger Cup’ tournament. CFTC was conceived by Sandeep Patil, Harbhajan Singh and Yusuf Pathan in 2012. This year saw the 7th Tiger Cup tournament.

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