A journalist covered a heartwarming story from northern India about the love and companionship between a common man and an endangered Sarus crane. The bird was found by the man in a farm land with an injured leg, and it was unable to move or fly. This man took the bird to his home, provided him with the necessary veterinary care and medication, food and water, as well as his unending compassionate love to have the bird get back to life and it’s normal walking and flying abilities. The bird got attached to this man and follows him everywhere he travels within a radius of 10-15 kms everyday.
It occasionally goes to the nearby forest fir couple hours and get back to his home every evening and spend the night with this man’s family for the past one year. Not once this rare bird leafy the man and always showed its live and gratitude for this man everyday of its life. Can as human’s we could show such love, devotion and companionship to another fellow human for paying gratitude. This rare bird is an unique example of our close association with nature and nurture from time immemorial.
We often forget our close ties and relationship with our immediate natural ecosystem and environment. Our selfish greeds and needs have slowly transformed us into enotionless robots chasing materialistic wealth and comforts as our only destination in life. However, the mutual love and respect between two different species like this bird and the man is a true reflection of our original spirit and enthusiasm and an example of necessary humanitarian touch to our lives. So many people through their ignorance and selfishness kill a number of migratory birds for small gains in terms of food or money.
However, they have little or no respect for nature; nor any time for nurture to protect our environment. Little do they realize the irreversible damages they are inflicting in the nature, forests and biodiversity. Thus act of kindness by a man to protect an endangered species like Sarus crane through his love and compassion is equally returned by this beautiful bird teaching us all a lesson of our life. In Buddhism, it is said that “Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” By giving to others we only gain; but by holding back we become losers in life.