This paper examines animal symbolism in Urdu poetry through an ecocritical lens, arguing that literary representations often construct fixed cultural meanings that overshadow ecological realities. While animals have long served as metaphors for human emotions, ethics, and social behaviours, these symbolic associations can become reductive when they detach from the biological and environmental significance of the creatures themselves. The study situates this discussion within a broader intellectual tradition, drawing on classical insights as well as modern ecological thought. Focusing on selected animals such as vultures, frogs, snakes, bats, and owls, the paper demonstrates how Urdu poetry frequently associates them with negative qualities like greed, deceit, impurity, fear, and decay. In contrast, contemporary ecological science highlights their essential roles in maintaining environmental balance–ranging from disease control and pest regulation to pollination and bioindication. This contrast reveals a gap between cultural imagination and scientific understanding, raising important questions about the impact of inherited metaphors on environmental perception. The study argues that the issue lies not in symbolism itself but in its uncritical perpetuation. It calls for a re-evaluation of traditional metaphors in Urdu poetry, advocating for a more dynamic literary approach that remains sensitive to ecological knowledge. Such a shift can help align cultural expression with environmental awareness, ultimately contributing to a more balanced and responsible relationship between humans and the natural world.

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