Watch: 4-YO Ahmedabad Girl Fearlessly Rescues Snakes, Turtles, Rabbits & More!
When Hridhima Patel was just a year and a half old, her mother noticed something unusual. While most toddlers might shy away from a crawling insect or flinch at a bird’s sudden flutter, Hridhima moved closer. She was curious, calm, and unafraid.
Now four, she’s no stranger to animal rescues in Ahmedabad. Whether it’s holding a container during a turtle release, watching closely as her mother helps relocate a snake, or quietly sitting near an injured rabbit, Hridhima is always nearby — observing, absorbing, helping in little ways.
At home, being kind to animals is just part of everyday life. Surrounded by that, Hridhima is growing up seeing snakes, turtles, rabbits — all kinds of animals — as something to care for, not be scared of.
Early connection with nature
Instead of pulling her away or shielding her, Hridhima’s parents chose to encourage her curiosity. From observing birds to gently approaching injured animals, Hridhima was slowly introduced to a world many adults hesitate to engage with. Her ease around animals didn’t come from training — it came naturally. Her parents simply made space for it to grow.
What began with silent observation soon became active involvement. By the age of three, Hridhima was accompanying her mother on rescue calls, watching each step closely and helping with safe releases wherever she could.
Learning by doing
Hridhima plays an active role in every rescue she attends. She holds small containers, spots animals that need help, and watches closely as trained adults handle them with care. Every step she takes is guided and supervised, but the learning is hands-on and real.
The snakes and turtles she helps rescue are often relocated from crowded residential areas back into more natural environments. It’s a careful, patient process that Hridhima is learning through experience.
Raised in a home where injured birds, snakes and rabbits are cared for daily, Hridhima is learning empathy by living it.
One of the most heartening aspects of Hridhima’s story is how her actions are already sparking conversations about empathy and coexistence. She often speaks to other children at community events, encouraging them not to fear animals and to respect all forms of life.
For someone so young, she is already leading by example.
A family-led approach to wildlife care
The Patels’ approach is rooted in education, awareness, and responsible action. Hridhima is not allowed to handle large or dangerous animals on her own, and the family strictly follows safety protocols. But she is always close by — observing, learning, and participating within safe limits.
Her interest spans reptiles, mammals, birds, insects, and even plants. Every living being catches her attention, and she wants to know more.
Hridhima often joins her mother on rescue calls, learning how to spot distressed animals and care for them with calm focus.
Growing up in this environment has shaped how she sees the world. She is learning that rescue is only one part of care — understanding how animals live, and where they belong, matters just as much.
Choosing compassion over fear
Many of the animals Hridhima helps rescue are typically met with fear or hostility in urban India. Snakes are chased away, turtles are ignored, and injured birds are often left unattended. But Hridhima’s presence is changing that narrative.
Her story challenges deep-rooted fears and invites people to pause, observe, and act with kindness.
Though still very young, her actions have already begun influencing her community. Residents in her neighbourhood now reach out to her family when they spot injured or distressed animals — a ripple effect of compassion that started with one child.
In a world often weighed down by distressing headlines, Hridhima’s story is a bright reminder: when children are raised with respect for nature, they reflect it back. Sometimes, even a four-year-old can teach us what it means to be truly humane.
News