DANAPUR: The hands that fire on borders are now providing loving care to thousands of rare migratory birds, better known as Siberian cranes, at the Danapur Cantonment. It is an unusual sight watching armymen of the Danapur sub-area taking loving care of the birds. These Army personnel stand guard to protect them against poaching in the Cantonment area.
According to Lt Col P S Atwal of Danapur sub-area, thousands of rare birds of black and white colours swarm the Cantonment area in the months of May-June each year. Some of them come from Scotland and remain on the tree tops till winter sets in. During their six months stay, the young ones of these Siberian cranes learn to fly and pick their own food. It is then that these rare birds return home with the onset of winter, said Atwal.
These Army personnel are not ornithologists, but they understand their language. As a foster-parent they take care of these birds providing "food and water" to them every day on time. When the young birds get hurt or injured, the Armymen nurse them with care and compassion. Atwal maintained that while these Siberian cranes start travelling from thousands of miles away from the foreign shores, the soldiers of sub-area of the Danapur Cantonment did not allow "tree cutting" during the period of their stay here. These soldiers are always on alert while on duty to ensure that the passers-by in the Cantonment area did not harm the birds, he said.
An old timer of the Cantonment stated that these rare birds had been swarming the Cantonment area since pre-Independence. The Britishers used to take care of them. However, the number of these migratory birds roosting in the Cantonment area had increased in the last two decades only, he maintained. Senior Army officials of the Cantonment, who feel proud of having such rare birds in their midst, admit that these beautiful birds add real beauty to the environment of the area.
