Human-sarus interactions in awadh region of uttar pradesh, india

Abstract

This study explores the deep cultural and ecological bonds between local communities and the vulnerable Indian Sarus crane (Grus antigone antigone), Uttar Pradesh's state bird and the world's tallest flying bird. Focusing on Barabanki, Sitapur, and Ambedkar Nagar districts amid wetland-rich agricultural landscapes, the study documents villagers' experiential knowledge through semi-structured interviews, walks, and observations in sites like Kotwa Kalan, Bibipur, Sipahiya, and Chaichaiya, revealing Sarus as familial symbols—"sirasiya mausi" (aunt) to children or "hansa" (swan) embodying fidelity in folklore and bhakti poetry. Locals anthropomorphize the bird's monogamous parenting, aggressive nest guarding, rainfall-adapted nesting platforms, preference for sweet Narai grass roots or peas, territorial calls, and dances, while cultural taboos (e.g., harming Sarus invites leprosy) foster tolerance despite minor crop conflicts from field nesting. Despite historical threats like wetland loss from agricultural intensification and canals, communities exhibit profound insights into Sarus behaviors, adaptations to climate change, and social complexity, highlighting multispecies coexistence rooted in traditional values that can inform locally appropriate conservation strategies.