UP man who rescued and cared for Sarus crane for a year gets Forest department notice
Arif Khan Gurjar who treated the bird "like a family member" has been booked under relevant sections of the Wildlife Protection Act.
Published: 26th March 2023 04:12 PM | Last Updated: 26th March 2023 04:12 PM | A+A A-
Arif Khan Gurjar with a 'Saras' crane that has 'befriended' him, at Mandaka Village in Jamo block, in Amethi district, UP. (Photo | PTI)
AMETHI: The Forest department has filed a case and issued a notice to an Uttar Pradesh man who rescued a Sarus crane and took care of it for a year, officials said.
The crane, which lived with Arif Khan Gurjar in the Mandkha village of Amethi district, accompanied him to his fields and was accepted "like a family member", was taken away by Forest department officials on March 21.
The bird was shifted to the Samaspur sanctuary in Rae Bareli to allow it to live in its natural environment, an official had said.
On Saturday, the department issued a notice to Gurjar and asked him to appear at the office of the Gauriganj divisional forest officer on April 4 to record his statement.
According to the notice issued by Assistant Divisional Forest Officer (Gauriganj) Ranvir Singh, Gurjar has been booked under relevant sections of the Wildlife Protection Act.
READ MORE | Tale of a UP man and his sarus crane who walks - and flies - in his footsteps
A day after the bird was taken away, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav held a press conference during which he condemned the Forest department action and asked indirectly if any official had the courage to take away the peacocks at the prime minister's residence.
Gurjar sat on the dais with the former chief minister but did not speak.
Yadav had visited Gurjar after he gained fame due to his "friendship" with the bird.
He had also shared pictures of himself with the bird and Gurjar on social media.
Perhaps I don't comprehend the issue here, but this boy was living happily free, with his human friend in Amethi, a few days ago.
— thakursahab (@65thakursahab) March 25, 2023
He's been rescued & is in a cage now. pic.twitter.com/GsdMkiMbYx
Responding to Yadav's allegations, Divisional Forest Officer DN Singh had said, "Whatever action has been taken is with Arif's (Gurjar) consent."
The official said these birds always live in pairs.
Since this one was living alone, there was some apprehension about its well-being.
On Thursday, Yadav alleged that the crane had gone missing before being rescued by some local residents.
Forest officials, however, had denied the claim.
वन विभाग की टीम उप्र के राजकीय पक्षी सारस को तो स्वतंत्र करने के नाम पर उसकी सेवा करनेवाले से दूर ले गयी, देखना ये है कि राष्ट्रीय पक्षी मोर को दाना खिलानेवालों से स्वतंत्र करने के लिए क्या कार्रवाई की जाती है। pic.twitter.com/S52HgEjWnV
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) March 21, 2023
