In the parched landscapes of western Rajasthan, wildlife faces a silent crisis as natural waterholes vanish and animals are forced into dangerous, long-distance treks for thirst-quenching water. It was during one such moment in the Tal Chappar Sanctuary that Sharvan Patel, originally a wildlife photographer, resolved to act. He dug his first khaili — a shallow, low-seepage pond modelled on traditional village waterholes — near his hometown in Jodhpur district. That first pond brought blackbucks, mongooses and birds back within weeks.

Today, his initiative has grown into a movement spanning 100+ ponds in districts like Barmer, Jaisalmer and Bikaner. Each pond costs around ₹ 30,000-40,000 and is built with local labour, lining and embankment work that reduces water loss. To sustain them during harsh summer months, Sharvan also launched a WhatsApp-group fundraising campaign—“One Rupee Per Day for Wildlife Conservation”—with over 1,000 members supporting the cause.

The results are vivid: blackbuck herds now stay closer to home instead of risking the polluted waters of the Jojari River, chinkara numbers are rising and migratory birds now flock to the revived ponds. work shows how a simple idea, scaled through community action, environmental awareness and social-media reach, can turn arid wastelands into life-filled hammocks for desert fauna.