Is the Greater Adjutant an Extinct Bird?
Kolkata, West Bengal
A strange type of bird. Huge in size. Its name is Hargila. In English, the Greater Adjutant Stork. Many birds like herons and storks belong to the stork family. But why is the Hargila called an adjutant?
Because of their behavior. An adjutant is a type of rigid military officer. These officers stand for hours, waiting for instructions from their superiors. They move stiffly and turn their heads sharply, observing keenly. The behavior of these birds is quite similar.
British soldiers in military uniform, upon observing the stork’s movements, named them the Indian Adjutant. Some simply call them adjutants. Scientifically, they are known as Leptoptilos dubius. In Bengali and Assamese, they are called Hargila. The word is thought to originate from the Assamese language. The meaning is the same as in Bengali: "Har" (bones) and "gila" (to swallow). The bird’s name translates to "bone swallower."
A hundred years ago, these birds were found in many parts of the country. Flocks of Hargilas would build nests on the roofs of tall houses and large trees in Kolkata. Two hundred years ago, Hargilas would gather in flocks in the trees of Kolkata's Maidan. These birds helped keep the city clean by eating garbage. They were like the city’s scavengers, benefitting society. Their value was recognized by the city, and their image was used on the official letterhead of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, a symbol of the city's "Coat of Arms."
The municipal authority understood the value of this beneficial bird and declared the killing of Hargilas illegal. However, the people of the city disliked the bird because it ate dead animals, which they considered dirty and impure. They killed Hargilas whenever they got the chance. Another reason for killing the birds was the high value of their feathers. The feathers were sold in secret, even making their way to England and France, where they adorned the clothing of aristocratic women.
Sadly, the Hargila is no longer seen in Kolkata or West Bengal. Has it gone extinct, like the Dodo? Will we never see these birds again on Earth?
Many people believed that the Hargila had vanished from the world, like the Dodo or the Passenger Pigeon. Five or six years ago, only about a thousand Hargilas were left in the world. Just a thousand. In a single tree in the Sundarbans, you can find a thousand parrots.
The Hargila was rapidly disappearing and was on the verge of vanishing forever from the face of the Earth. But thanks to the efforts of a few people, the Hargila is making a comeback from the brink of extinction. Five years ago, a few hundred Hargilas still lived in Assam, and now their number has grown to a few thousand. How did their population increase so much?
With the care and treatment provided by a few individuals, these birds have been saved from death. An organization called "Aranyak" has launched conservation efforts in several places in Assam. Many tall trees exist in the protected forest areas, where various birds build their nests. But the Hargila is not a wild bird; they do not prefer the jungle. They prefer areas inhabited by humans, where they can find carcasses of dead animals.
Since the Hargila feeds on dead animals and is considered unpleasant to look at, people dislike them. Even in the villages of Assam, people didn’t like the Hargila. The birds used to nest in the trees of distant villages like Dadara and Singimari, far from the city. Their nests would often fall to the ground during storms, killing the birds. But the volunteers from the Aranyak organization visited homes in these villages and explained to the people, "Save these birds. A little care can help them survive, or else they will disappear from the world forever."
Gradually, the villagers began to understand the importance of saving these endangered birds. The ecosystem consists of animals, plants, and humans, and if one part is harmed, the entire system collapses. If one species is destroyed, human survival becomes difficult.
The villagers enthusiastically joined the conservation effort. Now, they allow the birds to nest in the branches of their Kadam trees. If a young bird falls from the tree, they nurse it back to health with care and treatment. The village weavers are even weaving images of the birds into shawls and towels. The ordinary people of these villages have thrown themselves into the effort to save the birds from extinction.
The Aranyak organization has inspired the people of these villages to protect nature and the environment. Dr. Purnima Devi Barman, the chief organizer behind Aranyak, leads the conservation efforts in Dadara and the nearby villages of Singimari and Pasaria. Under her leadership, the women of these villages have formed the "Hargila Brigade." The Hargila Brigade is determined not to let the Hargila bird disappear from the face of the Earth.
The contribution of Assam’s Aranyak organization and the Hargila Brigade to nature conservation will be remembered in history.
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