In a village in Assam, a group of women sits around a loom. They talk as they work, their hands moving almost automatically through years of practice. The sarees they weave look traditional at first, but if you lean in, you notice the figures stitched into the fabric. Long necks, slightly hunched shoulders, wings that look almost too big. The greater adjutant stork.
For generations, people in these villages believed the bird brought bad luck. Children threw stones at them. Trees with nests were cut down without hesitation. The stork lived in the shadows of misunderstanding.
Then one woman decided the story needed a different voice.
Purnima Devi Barman began speaking about the bird with affection. She called it “hargila”. She explained how gentle the species is, how important it is to the ecosystem, and how few of them were left. She gathered women from the community and formed what the world now knows as the Hargila Army. Together, they brought the bird into daily life. Sarees carried their image. Women sang about it. Baby showers were held for chicks. Slowly, the community began to see the bird as part of their own lives rather than a nuisance.
That is the quiet strength of storytelling. It opens the heart before it educates the mind.
So how do we use storytelling to protect the greater adjutant and other endangered species across India?
1. Begin with the Personal – Make the story about an individual, not a category
People form emotional connections with characters long before they connect with a statistic. Names, personalities, routines, struggles and small moments matter. These are the details that make a wild animal feel familiar rather than distant.
Story: Collarwali – The Tigress Who Became a Mother to a Forest
In the forests of Pench in Madhya Pradesh lived Collarwali. She earned her name from the radio collar she once wore, but it was her life story that made her remarkable. Over many years, she gave birth to 29 cubs. This is the highest number recorded for any wild tigress in India.
Forest staff recognised her immediately. Villagers treated her with the respect of royalty. Wildlife filmmakers followed her for years. Documentaries such as Tiger: Spy in the Jungle carried her story to families around the world.
Storytelling elements
• Her entire life was documented, including her cubs, her challenges and her slow aging.
• International films created a strong emotional connection with audiences.
• She became an unofficial symbol of Project Tiger.
• Her presence drew eco-tourism, strengthened conservation support and helped generate funding.
Her story stayed alive long after she passed away.
2. Empower Communities to Tell Their Own Stories
Conservation lasts when the people who live closest to wildlife feel ownership of the story. When the message is woven into songs, rituals, textiles and children’s activities, it becomes part of everyday life rather than an outside instruction.
Story: The Hargila Army – Women Who Reclaimed a Bird
Once rejected and disliked, the greater adjutant slowly found its way into the cultural identity of Assamese communities. When Purnima Devi Barman began working with local women, something shifted. They took the bird into their own narratives.
Sarees displayed their form. Schoolchildren learned songs about nesting rituals. Families celebrated chick hatchings. Puppet shows and folk performances carried the story into festivals.
Storytelling elements
• The bird became part of ceremonies and local celebrations.
• Women used embroidery and textiles to share their pride.
• Joyful events replaced the old sense of shame or fear.
• The species moved from an endangered status to near threatened in 2023.
• Most importantly, a once-ignored species gained committed community protectors.
3. Use Creative Mediums – Not Everyone Reads Reports, But Everyone Feels a Story
Reports and policy documents matter, but most people connect instinctively with visual or artistic content. A photograph or a short film can leave a deeper impression than a paragraph full of data.
Story: The Photo Ark by Joel Sartore
Photographer Joel Sartore set out to capture species before they vanish. His project, the Photo Ark, now holds more than 16,000 portraits of animals, all photographed against black or white backgrounds.
With no scenery to distract, the viewer is drawn straight to the animal’s eyes, fur, feathers or markings. It creates an intimate and sometimes uncomfortable closeness.
Storytelling elements
• Each species is photographed with equal dignity, no matter how rare or unknown.
• Exhibitions appear in museums, schools and public spaces around the world.
• Teachers use the images to help children learn empathy as well as biology.
• The project has brought many lesser-known species into global awareness and helped raise funding for their protection.
4. Celebrate What’s Working – Hope Inspires More Than Guilt
People respond to possibilities. When conservation stories highlight victories, even small ones, they offer a sense of momentum.
Story: The Revival of the One-Horned Rhinoceros
The greater one-horned rhino was once pushed to the brink by poaching. Kaziranga National Park increased patrols, strengthened protection and later introduced new populations in Dudhwa.
Today, Kaziranga holds more than two-thirds of the world’s one-horned rhinos.
Storytelling elements
• The narrative focuses on recovery and resilience.
• Local communities take part in awareness and anti-poaching work.
• Schools teach children to see the rhino as a national symbol to protect.
• The population has steadily increased, and India is recognised globally for large-mammal recovery.
5. Bridge Science and Emotion – Let the Data Be Felt
Research is the foundation of conservation. But it is storytelling that carries it into people’s hearts. When scientific knowledge is paired with personal narrative, it becomes unforgettable.
Story: Wildlife Messengers – Where Researchers Become Storytellers
In the Macaw Project, researchers documented their own work with cameras. The footage shows them climbing tall trees to check nests, writing notes by torchlight, and speaking with local families who help protect the birds.
The film’s tone feels personal and unfiltered.
Storytelling elements
• The narrative is authentic because it is recorded by the people doing the work.
• Local communities appear as equal partners rather than background characters.
• Complex science is explained in clear, emotional language.
• The film reached global audiences and raised funding for macaw conservation.
• It also showed that conservation is as much about people as it is about wildlife.
Every strong conservation movement begins with a story. At Simit Bhagat Studios, we help organisations bring these stories to life through films, illustrations, and narrative strategy.
If you want to shape stories that inspire people to care and act, we would be glad to work with you.
