From an "ill omen" to a revered symbol of pride! 🪶🌿

The Greater Adjutant Stork, locally called Hargila, was once loathed as an inauspicious scavenger in Assam. Villagers frequently felled nesting trees and drove them away, pushing the species toward the brink of extinction.

Enter Dr. Purnima Devi Barman, an extraordinary wildlife biologist who set out to change hearts and minds. She mobilized village women, connecting the bird to local folklore, rituals, and Assamese handloom heritage—where women proudly weave Hargila motifs onto traditional gamosas and mekhela chadors.

What began with a handful of villagers grew into the world-renowned Hargila Army—an all-women conservation brigade of thousands guarding nesting colonies and transforming local ecology.

Did you know about Dr. Purnima Devi Barman's historic mission before this? Show your appreciation in the comments below! 👇💬

 

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