Alert in St Cruz
Publication
Stories with | Sherry Fernandes
Artist-Designer | Pran Gupta
Concept Note
How does media reflect our understanding of animal interactions in urban spaces? This project aims to explore crocodile sightings in Goa and how people reacted to it based on the media’s portrayal of the incident. One in particular which took place recently, where a crocodile was found outside Sherry’s house, looking for a place to relax. Sherry reflects back to her 25 years of living in Goa where these incidents are very common yet never posed any danger to the community as these crocodiles come to land to look for places to sunbath or relax in. This crocodile found its spot beside a car near a canal to enjoy the cool breeze yet taking in the summer sun, minding its own business. The media started surrounding it as soon as they sighted it and spread word of danger and attack, spreading fear in locals and making the headline go viral across social media. This project aims to breakdown these negative connotations around this incident by exploring the species nature and its characteristics as well as actions taken by the local after the spread fear and how sherry’s knowledge helped the crocodile back to its home in the river without any harm.
Read here
About
Pran Gupta
Pran is a graduate of Srishti Manipal Institute with a focus in Visual Communication and Strategic Branding. Their practice sits at the intersection of publication design, branding, and type design, with a strong personal passion for illustration and visual journaling. They often draw inspiration from the environments around them, especially spaces rich in cultural and architectural significance. Traveling to new places fuels their creative curiosity and informs their design language.
Their queer identity deeply influences their perspective and approach, adding layers of introspection, sensitivity, and boldness to the work they create. Whether they’re crafting a brand story or designing a typeface, they aim to reflect narratives that are personal, inclusive, and visually compelling.
Sherry Fernandes
Sherry is a journalist from Goa who began her journey as a snake rescuer at just 13 years old. Her interest stemmed from a deep concern—questioning the misconceptions that made people fear snakes. That curiosity drove her to learn more, leading her to train under various rescuers.
Along the way, she encountered both ethical and unethical practices, witnessing firsthand how misinformation and mishandling put both people and snakes at risk. It was only when she met trained experts like Benhail and Alex from Goa that she truly understood responsible rescue practices. Though she is no longer actively rescuing snakes, she continues to contribute by helping people identify them, writing about them on her blog and social media, and occasionally assisting friends when they encounter snakes in their homes.
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