An Indian villager, Arif Gurjar, living in Mandka, Uttar Pradesh, has been adopted by the world’s tallest flying bird, a sarus crane, who he rescued when he was injured about 12 months ago. They had been inseparable since. Interspecies friendships are great. They are good for the world. He found the sarus crane injured in a field. He brought him home. He nursed him back to health with the assistance of his children and parents.
He has no veterinarian to call upon and tried various home remedies including a mustard oil and turmeric paste which applied to the wound. At the time the crane was moving very slowly and with difficulty.
After a month they removed the bandage and found that the bird could stand on his feet. Gurjar expected the bird to fly away as soon as he was healthy but he has stuck around. Gurjar believes that in giving the bird his freedom he will always return to him and has done for the past year. He said:
“On some days he flies away, but always returns by sunset. Friendship thrives on freedom. He roams around free and I never constrain him.”
The sarus crane stands 5 foot tall (1.56 m) and sometimes taller. It is found in some parts of India and said to be unafraid of humans although it must also be said that this kind of friendship is very rare indeed.
Wherever Gurjar goes his crane follows. He has called him Sarus. I have given ‘it’ the pronoun ‘he’ out of respect! Perhaps in time he may find a more individualistic name. As you might expect he has become a bit of a celebrity.
