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Clinton gets to shoot some tigers

Kamala Bora

US President Bill Clinton was lucky enough to see a couple of Royal Bengal tigers, India's national animal, at the Ranthambore tiger sanctuary this evening.

Clinton, his daughter Chelsea and his mother-in-law Dorothy Rodham came face to face with a male tiger in Bakola nallah area during their three-hour tour of the world-famous tiger sanctuary.

"This is among the most wonderful experiences of my life," Clinton said after spotting the tiger.

Superintendent of Police Rajesh Arya, who was leading the presidential motorcade, told reporters that the US president and his 50-member entourage, spotted the male tiger barely ten metres away from their vehicle.

A visibly excited Clinton and his daughter Chelsea took photographs and captured the tiger on video for about 15 minutes, he said.

Just a kilometre down the road, the president and his party spotted a tigress chasing a spotted deer for prey, Arya said.

Famous wildlife expert and tiger conservationist Fateh Singh Rathore and Deputy Field Director of the Ranthambore sanctuary G V Reddy accompanied the president and his family members in the open vehicle, telling them of India's efforts to conserve the tiger and the habits of the animal.

"We hope that the president carries forward the torch of tiger conservation and persuade the G-8 countries to launch an initiative in the United Nations to declare the tiger as a world heritage species," Union Minister of Environment and Forests P K Sen said.

Earlier, Clinton and his entourage, who arrived in five US Marine helicopters at five newly-constructed helipads near the sanctuary, were received by Rajasthan Minister for Environment and Forests Bhagraj Chaudhry and senior state officials.

CLINTON VISITS INDIA:The complete coverage

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