Love Knows No Species: The Tale of Arif and His Feathered Companion 'Bacchcha'

In the Amitabh Bachchan-starring film "Coolie," there was a majestic eagle named Allah Rakha who accompanied the protagonist, Iqbal, on his travels. However, such domestication of birds outside of captivity is a rare occurrence in reality.

Yet, there are still heartwarming stories of individuals encountering these creatures and creating unexpected bonds. Such is the case with Arif, a resident of a village in the Gauriganj tehsil of Amethi district, in Uttar Pradesh who rescued a crane last year.

Little did Arif know that instead of flying away to freedom, the state bird of Uttar Pradesh would choose to follow him everywhere, becoming a beloved member of his family. They even gave the crane a name, "Bacchcha," to which it surprisingly began responding.

Last month in February, social media was abuzz with reels and videos showcasing the heartwarming friendship between Arif and Sarus. The videos depicted "Bacchcha" flying in close proximity to Arif, evoking imagery reminiscent of a cinematic masterpiece.

Intrigued by this unique bond, The Mooknayak made its way to Amethi to uncover the story behind the friendship. Upon inquiry, Arif recounted the events that led to their companionship. In August of 2022, while working in the fields, he stumbled upon a bird lying injured. Initially intimidated by the creature's formidable size and sharp beak, he soon discovered that its right leg was broken and was bleeding, with bite marks indicating an attack by predators such as foxes or dogs. Summoning his courage, Arif took the bird home, despite initial skepticism from his father. However, with time, even his father grew to accept the bird as part of their family.

Political dimension takes over Arif-Sarus friendship

The heartwarming relationship between Arif and Sarus caught the attention of Samajwadi Party Chief, Akhilesh Yadav, who was intrigued enough to pay a visit to the village to meet the duo. However, the political dimension of the situation could not be ignored, as the Former Chief Minister used the opportunity to take aim at the BJP government. In a tweet, he highlighted the initiatives taken by the Samajwadi Party government to protect the Sarus crane, including the establishment of the Sarus Protection Society, the Sarus Mitra Scheme, and the International Sarus Conservation Workshop. He also noted that the party had signed an agreement with the International Crane Foundation. Yadav further asserted that the Samajwadi Party remained committed to the conservation of the Sarus crane, while the BJP government had yet to demonstrate similar efforts.

Sarus taken away by forest team

Tragically, the close bond between Arif and Sarus came to an abrupt end when a team of forest officials took the crane away. Arif expressed his profound sadness, stating that "The Amethi district administration has sent the crane to Samaspur bird sanctuary in Raebareli district, accompanied by the forest department team." The separation was especially difficult for Arif, who had shared a deep connection with Sarus for over a year. The 30-year-old was inconsolable, overcome with emotion as his beloved companion was taken away.

The situation took a political turn once again, as Akhilesh Yadav criticized the government's handling of the situation. He accused the forest team of taking away the crane from someone who had been caring for it, under the guise of rescuing the state bird. Yadav also made a veiled reference to the Prime Minister, questioning what steps were being taken to protect peacocks from those who feed them grains.

The bird goes missing

In a surprising turn of events, the sarus that was taken to the bird sanctuary in Raebareli went missing. However, it was later discovered in Bisaiya village by the brother of a home guard. The bird had apparently been surrounded by 10 dogs, and if the rescuer had been even slightly late, the dogs would have killed it. The rescuer took the sarus home, fed it, and then arranged for it to be taken back to the bird sanctuary in a battery rickshaw.

Sources indicate that the sarus is currently being kept at the VIC building, which houses a museum of birds. The employees at the museum are said to be taking care of the bird, providing it with food and other necessary provisions.

Close monitoring

Rupesh Srivastava, the range officer of the Samaspur Bird Sanctuary, has stated that the sarus was brought from Bisaiya village to the sanctuary, where it was released among the other 72 birds. The bird is reportedly being monitored closely, and the villagers have been informed about its presence. It is hoped that the sarus will be able to integrate with the other birds in the sanctuary and continue to thrive.

Beautifully Committed Birds

The sarus crane is known to exhibit strong bonds with its mate, much like humans. They walk, forage, rest, sleep, and even fly together. Even when in a flock, pairs prefer to stay with each other and their offspring. The level of commitment to their partners is legendary, and has been featured in various forms of art, literature, and culture. Old Mughal and Rajput paintings often depict a pair of sarus or a flock, rather than a single crane. This loyalty and attachment to their mates is a hallmark of the sarus crane.

According to legend, if one of the sarus crane pair dies, the other becomes inconsolable and weeps so much that it dies of heartache. Their commitment to their mates is so strong that they exhibit marital love, caring, attachment, and bereavement similar to that of human beings.

The Sarus Crane: UP's State Bird

The Sarus crane is the tallest flying bird and is known for its large size, with adult birds standing at an average height of 152-156 cm (5-6 feet) and weighing between 6.8-7.8 kgs. They have a lifespan of around 35-80 years. There are six species of Sarus crane found across the world, with the Indian Sarus crane being the most common. They are known to be very territorial and can be aggressive towards intruders. Due to habitat loss and degradation, hunting, and other threats, the Sarus crane is listed as vulnerable in the IUCN Red List and is protected under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 in India.

Conservation efforts

Like other vulnerable animals and birds, the biggest issue facing Sarus crane is habitat loss and degradation of the land. The rampant construction being undertaken has spilled over to the outskirts of the cities and is encroaching upon the forests and therefore threatening the protective environment of the bird species. Another fallout of loss of habitat has been the foraging in agricultural land and they often end up consuming pesticides.

Status in Uttar Pradesh

Sarus is the state bird of U.P. It was only in 2012 that the census of Sarus crane started.

Year  Population  Remarks 

2018 1867

2019 2121 Increased by 254

2020 ------ No census because of covid

Dec 2021 17,665

According to a Wildlife institute of India survey, 73% of the crane population is concentrated in Mainpuri, Etawah, Etah and Aligarh.  In fact, in 2021, Mainpuri, was home to the largest Sarus crane population in the country. In 2013 the Sarus Crane Conservation Project was established. 

Of the total 81 forest divisions in Uttar Pradesh, 17 of the divisions had 0 count. While 20 divisions saw decrease in the number compared to last time. 

Domestication impossible

According to Vikrant Nath, a passionate bird watcher, it is not possible to domesticate a Sarus crane as it is a wild animal that instinctively avoids human contact. Domestic animals have adapted to living with humans through evolution, whereas wildlife naturally shuns human presence. Therefore, the idea of domesticating wildlife is contradictory.

Some wild animals may come into human contact in captivity, such as in government zoos or private menageries, but this is typically due to circumstances such as abandonment by parents or injury. Even in captivity, their natural wild instincts remain intact, despite being physically restricted to human presence. It's worth noting that keeping wildlife in captivity is against Indian laws.