Iconic actress Zeenat Aman had a heartwarming encounter in Mandrem, Goa, as she observed the Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings making their way to the sea. Capturing the moment on social media, she praised the Goa Forest Department’s dedicated work.
Veteran actress Zeenat Aman recently witnessed a rare and moving natural spectacle during her stay in Mandrem, where she saw hatchlings of the Olive Ridley turtles make their way into the sea. The experience, which she shared on social media, left her deeply moved while also prompting an urgent appeal on environmental concerns to Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.Recalling the moment, she wrote, “Some weeks ago, hundreds of female turtles had hauled themselves out of the sea to dig their nests and lay their clutches. Now, with the moon rising above the water, those eggs were hatching. Somewhere under the sand below our feet, baby turtles were entering the world.”She described how officials from the Goa Forest Department carefully assisted the hatchlings. “They gently prised the packed sand loose, and from their excavations dozens of newborns emerged.
Driven by primordial instinct the babies are wired to walk into the sea, and with a little help from their doulas they began their journey,” she said.She further wrote, “The sheer beauty of the evening is imprinted in my heart. I felt the resilience and ancient wisdom of the Earth reflected in these creatures. It feels almost silly to be so deeply moved by the birth of some turtles when the human suffering around us is at this high.”
While expressing gratitude for the experience in Goa, she also raised concern over environmental degradation and appealed to the state leadership.“How tragic then it is to learn that today Goa’s waters – rivers and seas – are so contaminated with faecal content that they are unfit for swimming and fishing. Else it will be paradise lost,” said Zeenat.
