In Dhawa, a village near Jodhpur, a WhatsApp group of 1,000 members is on a mission to save wildlife. “Wildlife is like our children, they are our responsibility,” says Sharvan Patel, a passionate wildlife conservationist dedicated to restoring habitats in Rajasthan.
Sharvan (30) grew up in a village where wildlife and humans coexisted harmoniously. “It was so common for deer to interact with people...but today, if my kids want to see a deer, they have to go to a sanctuary,” he says.
Species like blackbucks and wolves once roamed freely. But now, many of them are critically endangered, including the blackbuck, which is listed as extremely vulnerable by PETA.
One major threat to the local environment is the pollution of the Jojri River, caused by the dumping of industrial and domestic waste. Sharvan and his team are working tirelessly to combat this harmful practice with better alternatives like creating watering holes for wildlife.
Another challenge is the increasing threat posed by feral dogs that attack injured animals caught in barbed wire. Sharvan addresses this issue by educating the community. “We show images and videos of harmed animals to farm owners,” he says.
Orans are vital to the survival of wildlife. To address water shortages in these areas, Sharvan built shallow water ponds, taking inspiration from the shallow saucer-like ponds at Tal Chhapar Sanctuary. The results were immediate.
Sharvan's WhatsApp group, ‘One Rupee Per Day for Wildlife Conservation’, has 1,000 members. “They pay Rs 365 every year for wildlife conservation. This has helped us raise funds for plantation efforts, filling up watering holes and the removal of invasive species,” Sharvan explains.
Sharvan also collaborates with the forest department to provide immediate help to injured animals. “We get five to seven calls daily, about one injured animal or the other. We either take our bikes or rent a car, and we go and see what the problem is and take the animal to be treated.”