{"id":3474,"date":"2026-01-10T14:57:47","date_gmt":"2026-01-10T09:27:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.navhindtimes.in\/kuriocity\/?p=3474"},"modified":"2026-01-10T14:57:49","modified_gmt":"2026-01-10T09:27:49","slug":"goas-green-heroes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.navhindtimes.in\/kuriocity\/goas-green-heroes\/","title":{"rendered":"Goa\u2019s green heroes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A teenage snake rescuer and a veteran marine conservationist were recently honoured for their work in protecting Goa\u2019s biodiversity<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RAMANDEEP KAUR | NT KURIOCITY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every creature, on land or beneath the sea, plays a role in nature\u2019s balance. Sahil Gaonkar and Venkatesh Charloo are among those who are working to protect it. They were recognised for their efforts at the 2025 Sanctuary Wildlife Awards held last month at the Tata Theatre, NCPA, Mumbai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Snake rescuer Sahil Bhisso Gaonkar, 19, from Canacona, received the Young Naturalist Award, while veteran diver and marine conservationist Venkatesh (Venkat) Charloo was presented the Green Teacher Award for his contributions to marine conservation and education. The awards were organised and presented by Sanctuary Nature Foundation, one of India\u2019s leading environmental magazines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The teen who befriended snakes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gaonkar grew up in Badsare, a small ward in Gaondongrim village, Canacona, in a farming family. His father, Bhisso, he says, is \u201cconnected to nature and dependent on it\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He explains that many fear snakes because they believe all of them are venomous, a notion often taught from childhood. \u201cThere was a time I used to kill snakes out of fear and misinformation,\u201d he admits. However, everything changed when his school geography teacher, Devendra Tavadkar, introduced him to the importance of wildlife and forests. \u201cThat\u2019s when my bond with nature truly began.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His turning point came during a cobra rescue. \u201cThe family asked me to release it nearby because they considered it sacred. That moment made me realise how our ancestors understood the ecological role of snakes. Cobras and rat snakes help control rodent populations. They are essential to our ecosystem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of his most challenging rescues involved a Russell\u2019s viper caught in a net. \u201cI had no equipment, just my snake stick but I couldn\u2019t wait because this venomous snake could strike in an instant. I carefully freed its head and educated the people before releasing it into the wild.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In one memorable rescue, he handed a harmless Whitaker\u2019s boa to an elderly woman. \u201cShe accepted it with trust. That\u2019s the kind of change I hope to bring, replacing fear with understanding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indeed, every rescue, he says, is an opportunity to educate. \u201cI explain why snakes matter and correct common myths. We also conduct awareness sessions in schools to reduce fear among children.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that wild animals, trees and plants are as crucial to the planet as humans. \u201cIf they disappear, the Earth\u2019s balance will be lost.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though he doesn\u2019t offer formal training, he has shared his knowledge with friends, some of whom now safely rescue non-venomous snakes in their villages. \u201cIt\u2019s about building trust and passing on the right information.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And receiving the Young Naturalist Award was a proud moment for him. \u201cIt\u2019s the result of years of dedication. This recognition gives me the courage to keep going and inspire others,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to everyone who supported me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Diving for a cause<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Charloo, the ocean has been both a livelihood and a calling. He is the founder of Barracuda Diving India, a recreational scuba diving company in Goa and the founder-trustee of Coastal Impact, an NGO focused on marine conservation, education and research. He has spent over 30 years exploring Goa\u2019s underwater world. \u201cI realised no one was working on long-term projects to protect Goa\u2019s marine life. I felt I had to give back to the Arabian Sea and its creatures,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coastal Impact runs marine awareness programmes for schoolchildren, local fishers, and dive operators. \u201cWe engage communities through sensitisation sessions, coral nursery maintenance, clean-up drives, adoption of coral fragments and more,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charloo sees education as the foundation of lasting environmental change. \u201cThe future lies with the next generation, who will face the consequences of our actions,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s encouraging to see students already engaging with the UN\u2019s Sustainable Development Goals and taking the lead in school-based environmental clubs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charloo was nominated for the Green Teacher Award by a friend in the conservation field. \u201cI\u2019m humbled to be recognised among such inspiring individuals,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is clear-eyed about the challenges ahead. \u201cGoa\u2019s coast faces threats like climate change, coastal erosion, pollution, bottom trawling, LED fishing, sedimentation and garbage. But with awareness and action, we can still make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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A teenage snake rescuer and a veteran marine conservationist were recently honoured for their work in protecting Goa\u2019s biodiversity RAMANDEEP KAUR | NT KURIOCITY Every creature, on land or beneath the sea, plays a role in nature\u2019s balance. Sahil Gaonkar and Venkatesh Charloo are among those who are working to protect it. They were recognised […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3477,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3474","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aspire-inspire","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.navhindtimes.in\/kuriocity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3474","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.navhindtimes.in\/kuriocity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.navhindtimes.in\/kuriocity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.navhindtimes.in\/kuriocity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.navhindtimes.in\/kuriocity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3474"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.navhindtimes.in\/kuriocity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3474\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3478,"href":"https:\/\/www.navhindtimes.in\/kuriocity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3474\/revisions\/3478"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.navhindtimes.in\/kuriocity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3477"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.navhindtimes.in\/kuriocity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.navhindtimes.in\/kuriocity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.navhindtimes.in\/kuriocity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}