Arif recently entered the Kanpur zoo surreptitiously, as he is forbidden from entering the zoo. He managed to meet his bird friend after four months. He was not sure if the bird would recognize him or not. When he took off his mask the bird recognized him and was overjoyed by flapping its wings, doing a dance of sorts in celebration of its meeting its old friend. Unfortunately after some time, when Arif was leaving, the sarus-crane reacted by running around in circles, wondering why his friend not taking her with him.

https://youtu.be/Pvnd9gSNgrA 

Please watch this short film on Arif and his bird friend. 

https://youtu.be/M9WKFOlVwT8

Arif a Muslim farmer, in Uttar Pradesh, India, found an injured Sarus-crane in his paddy field. He took the bird home and nursed it for 2 months. The bird went to visit its family and friends at the paddy field but aftet few hours it came back to Arif. It started following him everywhere. The bird went for morning walks with Arif, glided alongside him when he would ride his bike. It ate  from Arif's hand and plate. They become inseperable friends. Soon, Arif and his bird became famous through social media.  An opposition party leader visited Arif to see his magnificent bird and this news went viral. The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adithnath, sent  a convoy from forest department  and consfiscated the bird and put it in a zoo.  As per the govt officials, Sarus bird is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act,  therefore no one can keep as a pet or feed it. Interestingly, the peacock is India's national bird and is protected under the same Wildlife Protection Act, is seen in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence and he is seen feeding them. However Arif's bird has been snatched away from him..It is a wild bird and it's been in the zoo for 4 months. The bird is extremely unhappy in its captive condition and has given up eating food. It's falling sick frequently. It misses its human friend Arif and its family in the paddy field. Doctors have been administering various medications and injections to keep the bird alive. Everyday many people visit the zoo to have a glimpse of the Sarus bird but Arif is strictly prohibited from approaching the zoo. Both Arif and the Sarus are devastated due to the punishment they have received for forging unconditional friendships between human and bird. 

Arif's life has come to a halt as his friend is caged and lost its freedom. He has been visiting every influencial person, with some political clout to get his bird freedom. He feels extremely crestfallen when he remembers that the sarus bird used to fly for 8-10 miles everyday now for 4 months is imprisoned. It had all the freedom of the world. It danced, visited its family in the paddy field, followed Arif everywhere,  now it's caged and cries, recalling those happy days. It's yearning for freedom and its caretaker friend Arif.

We have to fight for Arif and his bird as wild bird in captivity may exhibit neurotic behaviors. It's life has become dull and sad, and may die in captivity,  for no fault. Arif will always live a sad-empty life, knowing that his bird friend has been given the" death sentence", which is keeping a wild bird in confinement . The bird's only fault being that it befriended a human being.