I SEE THE RISE OF DEFENDERS

When a species disappears from a land, the loss extends far beyond the species itself.

- SUMIT DOOKIA

I vividly remember my first encounter with the great Indian bustard. It was on the outskirts of Bikaner in 2000. I was a young researcher, roaming the scrublands with more curiosity than knowledge. On one such outing accompanied by a few other researchers, I experienced a “not-seen-before” moment. The bird emerged first as an unidentifiable shape, tall and measured in its stride. Its sheer size, the way it rose into the air with slow, powerful wingbeats, left a lasting impression. In retrospect, that first sighting was also among the last in that landscape.