Siddhivinayak Emu Farm

If you ever head down towards Kolhewadi, you’ll find us right opposite the CWPRS Gate No. 2. It’s a bit of a different kind of place because we’re running the Siddhivinayak Emu Farm here. Most people around Pune Sinhagad Road are used to cows or chickens, so seeing the emus usually makes them do a double-take when they walk past the fence. Those birds are pretty tall and they have a way of looking at you that makes you wonder what they’re thinking. We spend a lot of our time outdoors, making sure the enclosures are clean and everyone is fed on time. It’s a lot of physical work, especially when the weather gets hot and the dust starts blowing around. The farm isn't some polished tourist attraction; it’s a working farm where we take care of the livestock and manage the daily chores. My boots are usually covered in mud or dirt by noon. We have a small shed where we keep the supplies and a desk for the books, but I’m rarely sitting behind it. The noise from the birds can get quite loud in the early morning. Sometimes we have visitors asking about the eggs or just wanting to see the emus, and we try to be helpful. It’s a unique spot on the edge of the city, and while it's tough work, it’s what we do.