LEFTPurnima(centre) trainsandruns
theHargillaArmyindependently.As
wellasenjoyingsongsandrituals,
membersmonitortrees,protectnests
andparticipateinawarenesscampaigns.
Theyalsoweaveandsellstork-adorned
clothing,whichnotonlyearnstheman
income,butmoredeeplyconnectsthe
birdwithAssameseculture.ABOVEAsbird-haters
becomebird-lovers,the
hospitalatAssamStateZoo
isbecomingincreasingly
busy,asinjuredstorks–
particularlythosethathave
fallenfromtheirnests– are
broughtinforrehabilitation
andrelease.PHOTO STORY GREATER ADJUTANT
August 2020 BBC Wildlife 59