In the arid landscape of western Rajasthan, one man's compassion has created oases of hope for thousands of thirsty animals. Sharvan Patel, a wildlife photographer from Dhawa village in Churu district, has turned his love for wildlife into a remarkable conservation movement that's bringing life back to the desert.

The story began during the scorching summer of 2022 at Tal Chappar Wildlife Sanctuary, a vast grassland known for its blackbuck population. While photographing wildlife, Sharvan witnessed a scene that would change everything. A waterhole that once sustained countless animals had completely dried up, leaving only cracked earth and desperate creatures searching for moisture. He watched as blackbucks cautiously approached the barren ground, and a mongoose hurried away after finding nothing but mud. In that moment, Sharvan made a promise to himself that he would return with water.

He soon learned about khailis, traditional shallow ponds used by local villagers to collect and store rainwater. When forest guards built one at the sanctuary, Sharvan observed something wonderful. Initially wary, animals gradually discovered this lifeline. Hares came first, followed by mongooses at dusk, then peafowls, and finally the blackbucks themselves.

Inspired by this success, Sharvan and his friends decided to build their own khaili. They created a shallow depression in dry ground, applied a thin cement coating for water retention, then covered it with soil for camouflage. This simple design kept the water cool and made it last longer in the brutal desert heat. When they filled it with water and set up camera traps, the results were magical. Animals found it, drank from it, and thrived.

Word spread quickly after Sharvan shared photos and videos on social media. Messages poured in from villages across Rajasthan with requests to build similar ponds. People wrote desperate pleas about their local wildlife dying of thirst. Sharvan answered every call.

The Ripple Effect

Today, more than 130 khailis dot the landscape across Barmer, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, and Churu districts. These humble water sources have become vital sanctuaries for blackbucks, chinkaras (Indian gazelles), peacocks, desert foxes, mongooses, hares, reptiles, and migratory birds including harriers and cranes. The ponds offer clean, fresh water, preventing animals from venturing into villages where they risk being hit by vehicles or drinking contaminated water from agricultural fields.

Maintaining these lifelines requires dedication, especially from March to July when natural water sources vanish completely. Sharvan and his team arrange water tankers that travel about 20 kilometers to refill the ponds. Each tanker costs around ₹2,000.

The funding comes from a beautiful grassroots initiative: people donate just one rupee per day. Over 1,000 contributors from across India have joined this movement, proving that small acts of kindness add up to tremendous impact. Their collective generosity keeps water flowing through the desert summer, sustaining entire ecosystems.

Sharvan's journey from photographer to wildlife savior shows how one person's determination can spark a movement. By addressing a basic need with a simple solution, he's not just saving individual animals. He's restoring balance to desert ecosystems, reducing human-wildlife conflict, and inspiring communities to care for the creatures they share the land with.