When a lamb was abandoned and two baby kids lost their mother at birth, fate gently unfolded.
The three orphaned animals quickly found love in Sanjita Kuar, 43, a dairy farmer in Viria, Naitasiri, who opened her big heart to them.
Now, barely one year olds, the three farm animals have not only formed a deep bond with their adopted mum.
They have also become lovable companions to four farm dogs and a cat, creating an unlikely but harmonious family.
“I treat the baby goats and sheep with great care, as if they are my own children,” Sanjita said.
“They are not for monry or the pot and I will bury them when they die.”
Each day at the farm begins with routine.
In a day, the three little ones eagerly drink a bucket of cow’s milk and a packet of powdered milk from special feeding bottles, followed by treats of bread and tinned fish.
Not quite like your regular carnivore, from time to time, they snack on fresh blade of grass.
The furry male lamb is named Bibi, while the two baby goats share the name Miti.
“I’ve raised them since they were babies and now they are part of my own family,” Sanjita said.
“I speak to them in Hindi and call them by name and they come running to me. The goats have one name to make my work easier.I say Miti and they both come running.”
Among the trio, Bibi is the early bird of the farm. He faithfully alerts his boss with his loud bleating when it’s time to milk the cows at 5am.
As soon as Sanjita puts on her gumboots, she and her small band of animals head down a gentle slope toward the milking shed.
“I milk 10 cows manually every morning while they watch and we return home together. My father helps by milking 10 cows too,” Sanjita said.
‘When I change the cows in the afternoon, we go again as a team That’s our routine every day, seven days a week.”
When her 73-year-old father, Koki, grew old, Sanjita—a mother of two—took over the running of the family farm.
Today, she looks after a growing herd of 50 cattle, 20 of which are milking cows. Alongside them, she raises chickens, ducks, 33 goats, and 20 sheep—each one cared for with dedication and love.
“I love farm life because I was raised on it since I was a young girl.”
“But what I like the most is the fact that I am my own boss and nobody pushes me around and tells me what to do!”
When Sanjita’s son, a bus driver, returns home in the evening, Bibi and the two Mitis enter the bus to greet him.
Their favourite activity is fighting over the bhajia he buys from the Nausori bean cart.
The love on Sanjita’s farm is measured not in words, but in quiet companionship shared between her and the animals who call her ‘mother’ and her farm – home sweet home.
Bibi the ram is satisfied after a huge feed. Picture: JOHN KAMEA
The baby goats called Miti spot a feeding bottle in Sanjita’s hand and tries to attract her attention. Picture: JOHN KAMEA
Unlikely farm friends, a stock dog and a lamb. Picture: JOHN KAMEA
Sanjita feeds Bibi with mixed powdered milk. Picture: JOHN KAMEA
