Reviving the Hargila: Dr. Purnima Devi Barman’s conservation legacy and India’s rarest stork | World News – Times of India

In 2007, the greater adjutant stork, locally known as the hargila, faced imminent extinction in Assam, India, with fewer than 450 individuals remaining. Biologist Dr. Purnima Devi Barman spearheaded a groundbreaking conservation effort, rallying 10,000 rural women to protect the storks and reframe them as cultural symbols rather than omens of ill fortune.
This initiative, known as the Hargila Army, has led to a remarkable recovery, with the stork’s population now exceeding 1,800. Recognized by the 2024 Whitley Gold Award, Barman is expanding her efforts to ensure the stork’s continued resurgence and global conservation impact.

The birth of the Hargila army: Saving the rarest stork

Dr. Barman enlisted the help of 10,000 rural women, forming what would become known as the ‘Hargila Army’ or ‘Stork Sisters’. These women played a crucial role in protecting the storks’ nests and shifting the perception of these prehistoric-looking scavengers from symbols of bad omen to positive cultural icons.
The success of this grassroots movement was evident when the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reclassified the stork from Endangered to Near Threatened in December 2023. Since 2007, the population in Assam has surged to over 1,800.

Recognition and expansion plans for Dr. Barman’s Hargila conservation efforts

In recognition of her remarkable efforts, Dr. Barman was honored with the 2024 Whitley Gold Award by the Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN). This prestigious accolade celebrates grassroots conservation leaders and provides vital support for future initiatives. With the funding from this award, Dr. Barman plans to double the Hargila Army to 20,000 women and extend the conservation efforts to the Indian state of Bihar and Cambodia, targeting all remaining breeding grounds of the stork.

Impact on communities and education

Dr. Barman’s conservation efforts extend beyond safeguarding the storks. Her work has empowered thousands of women, enhancing their livelihoods and catalysing social change in their villages. Educational programs in local schools are integral to her strategy, fostering a new generation of allies for the stork.
The Hargila army’s vision for the future
The Hargila Army’s expansion aims to increase the stork population to 5,000 by 2030. This ambitious goal includes extending the conservation work to Cambodia and Bihar, emphasizing community involvement and education. As Dr. Barman puts it, “Magic happens when we involve communities. The Hargila Army is like a sisterhood network among the women.”

The Hargila army’s vision for the future: Doubling the population of the rarest Stork

The Hargila Army’s expansion aims to increase the stork population to 5,000 by 2030. This ambitious goal includes extending the conservation work to Cambodia and Bihar, emphasizing community involvement and education. As Dr. Barman puts it, “Magic happens when we involve communities. The Hargila Army is like a sisterhood network among the women.”

A cultural and environmental milestone

The greater adjutant stork, with its impressive wingspan of 2.4 meters and nests up to 1 meter wide, has transformed from a symbol of superstition into a celebrated cultural icon in Assam. Thanks to Dr. Barman’s dedication, this rare bird’s future looks brighter than ever.
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