UP govt seizes Sarus Crane from Arif, loses it, then finds the bird in Bi Saiyaa village

The Sarus Crane bird which had been missing for more than 12 hours from the Samaspur Bird Sanctuary, a day after it was placed there, has finally been traced in nearby village Bi Saiya village. Former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav who had raised the concern after it went missing from the sanctuary revealed the new whereabouts of the bird.

Thanking the people of Bi Saiya village, Akhilesh Yadav said that the villagers by feeding Sarus bird did what UP government couldn't.

उप्र के पक्षी-प्रेमी ‘बी सैया’ नामक गाँव को बहुत धन्यवाद जिसने सारस को बचाया, खिलाया पिलाया और वो काम कर दिखाया, जिसमें उप्र की सरकार नाकाम रही।

सच तो ये है कि प्रेम से बड़ी सत्ता और कोई हो ही नहीं सकती… भाजपाई अगर समय रहते ये समझ लें तो शायद उनके अंदर की नफ़रत कुछ कम हो जाए। pic.twitter.com/7JZ5bywe8x

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) March 23, 2023

The UP forest department had taken away Sarus Crane from its owner Mohammad Arif from Amethi district's Mandwa village on Tuesday (March 21). But the bird went missing from the Samaspur Bird Sanctuary, since Wednesday evening. Sarus Crane is Uttar Pradesh’s official state bird.

The authorities forcefully took over the custody of the bird, even though its owner Arif pleaded to the authorities that he takes utmost care of the Sarus Crane, and that there is an exquisite love bond between the two.

Please return Sara's 😭 pic.twitter.com/rDt0cSQgC0

— AKTA PIYUSH Student and freelancer (@aktapiyush) March 23, 2023

And a day later, the bird went missing from the sanctuary.

Former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had made a visit to Amethi to meet Arif and his friend Sarus Crane after the videos of them had gone viral on social media.

ले जाना चाहिए ‘छुट्टा जानवरों’ को और ले जा रही पाले हुए ‘सारस’ को ! बेहद शर्मनाक... pic.twitter.com/rWGts3UpK6

— Anshuman Singh (@AnshumanSP) March 23, 2023

When was Sarus Crane last seen? The officials at the bird sanctuary said that the Sarus was last seen on Wednesday (March 22) evening in the sanctuary.

dailyO tried to contact the Samaspur Bird Sanctuary, but the calls went unanswered. 

Akhilesh Yadav furious: Earlier in the day, Akhilesh Yadav had launched a direct attack on the UP authorities for failing to take care of the bird. Yadav said that the UP government must do everything it takes to find the bird, else the animal lovers in the world would stage a protest against.

Yadav had also taken a jibe at the UP government for forcefully taking the bird from Arif.

The bond between the Sarus and Arif: It is rare when birds bond with human beings. However, in Amethi’s Mandwa village, Mohammad Arif’s closeness with the Sarus Crane had enthralled people.

The bird would eat with Arif and follow him when he would ride a bike or go to the fields.

🇮🇳🇮🇳🥰🇮🇳🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/MXCyj1E5up

— VIKAS (@VIKAS97611297) March 23, 2023

Arif was left teary-eyed when the forest officials came in to take custody of the bird. The officials said that since it was UP’s official state bird, it cannot be kept at a residential place.