Global football superstar Lionel Messi has also had an unexpected chapter in his life when he visited Vantara, an ambitious initiative for the conservation of wildlife that has been led by Anant Ambani. News of this visit soon spread across the world when it was seen that Lionel Messi prayed, immersed himself in Indian culture, and was also seen taking a calm pose with a tiger.
Messi’s visit to Vantara is no less than a celebrity appearance. It is a lesson in a larger involvement in the newly-found focus of Indians on protecting wildlife in a manner that is both responsible and legal. Messi wore casual clothes comfortably mingling with Vantara staff, observing efforts being made there to rehabilitate rescued endangered species.
Another highly discussed activity of his trip has been his posing beside a tiger, supervised by experts and what better way for his picture to go viral? It has been inspiring for his fans around the world as it shows how this football star has emerged as a global personality and how he has reached out into nature.
According to sources that came from his visit, Messi was very impressed with the size and vision of Vantara and even its blending of science and compassionate animal welfare. His prayer and behavior showed the cultural respect he accorded to the Indian experience.
With the ongoing efforts being made in India to emerge as a hotspot for international discourse on issues like sustainability and wildlife conservation, the visit made by Messi to Vantara assumes a significance that can well be described as symbolic.
