How a military cantonment in Patna became an unlikely bird sanctuary

Beyond its military role, Danapur cantonment has emerged as a seasonal refuge for thousands of migratory birds that arrive every year for nesting. Over time, the cantonment has developed an ecological park-like environment, strengthening its role as an urban biodiversity pocket, according to Col Om Prakash.

Army personnel, often trained for operations along the borders, are actively involved in protecting the birds, caring for the injured and preventing poaching within the protected campus. The army has effectively turned parts of the cantonment into a micro-ecological zone where nests are safeguarded and disturbances are strictly controlled during the breeding season.

Among the seasonal visitors is the Asian openbill stork, which arrives between May and June for nesting, building large communal nests on tall trees inside the cantonment area. These birds arrive from a migratory belt stretching across parts of India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Cambodia, Col Prakash said.

For wildlife enthusiasts, Danapur cantonment remains a rare example of coexistence, where a heavily guarded military space also serves as a thriving seasonal sanctuary for migratory life, with locals and birdwatchers estimating around 3,000 birds arrive during the peak season.

Image: Wikimedia Commons/by PJeganathan