It was a scorching May afternoon, and the sun stood directly overhead, blazing fiercely over the forest of the Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. The usual verdant underbrush appeared parched and lifeless. That’s when Dr Sarita Subramanian spotted a young tigress sitting by a drying puddle.
“She was trying to drink from a small puddle. She then sat in the same puddle to cool herself. Her eyes reflected the struggle of thriving in a parched wilderness. Seeing her with limited resources struck me deeply. If this was the only water available, it made me wonder about the plight of smaller species. “We always talk about leaving bowls of water for birds during summer, but do we really consider the greater issue of water scarcity in the wild?” she asks.
It was this tigress’ silent plea for water that truly drove home the need for a sustainable solution. “This wasn’t just a scene of a tigress; it represented an urgent call to action — a way to restore balance and sustainability,” she adds.
Dr Sarita and her husband Dr PV Subramaniam, both seasoned dental surgeons turned wildlife crusaders, were deeply moved by the visible impact of water scarcity. Soon after 2017, the couple launched their non-profit Earth’s Brigade Foundation. Armed with a vision to support wildlife preservation, they decided on a seemingly simple yet revolutionary solution of solar water pumps.
So far, the couple has successfully completed 170 solar water pump installations in 25 forests and wildlife sanctuaries across seven states. Of these, 13 are tiger reserves including Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka, Kalagarh and Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand, Mukundra Hills and Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan, Panna and Kanha Tiger Reserves in Madhya Pradesh, Sathyamangalam and Mudumalai Tiger Reserves in Tamil Nadu.
A pledge to the wild
The Mumbai-based couple has always been fascinated by wildlife. “My husband and I have always been avid bird watchers. We would travel extensively across the length and breadth of the country. We did what we could to support wildlife and their habitats. However, it became clear to me that I needed to make a tangible impact on wildlife conservation by directly assisting wildlife and their habitat,” she adds.
“Usually, NGOs focus on raising awareness among local communities, hoping that an informed and harmonious populace would lead to better-managed wildlife. While this method may have been relevant decades ago, it seems outdated in today’s world,” she highlights.
“Many of us are well aware of the do’s and don’ts to protect our environment. Yet, some people continue to engage in harmful activities—such as violating wildlife laws, harming animals, or setting fire to forests—because they often face no repercussions. Given this reality, I believe in taking a more direct approach to make a difference,” she mentions.
Quoting the example of the tigress they spotted in Kanha, the couple aimed to harness renewable energy to address water scarcity in the wild.
By providing solar-powered pumps, which are submerged in borewells or perennial water bodies inside the forest, water is drawn out using solar energy and distributed through underground pipelines to various water bodies. This ensures that different animals have access to water within their natural habitat.
The process was rigorous, requiring complex logistics in remote and restricted areas, often under challenging conditions. Each installation wasn’t just about placing a pump in a borewell – sometimes in water bodies full of crocodiles or down a steep cliff of a waterfall. It involved strategic planning to ensure water reached multiple waterbodies, thus benefitting an array of species — from the omnipresent deer to the elusive tiger.
Beyond immediate relief from thirst, the transformation was remarkable. Dr Sarita informs that the vegetation around the water bodies flourished, drawing herbivores who in turn supported predator populations without them needing to leave their natural territories.
It was as if nature had been patiently waiting for a helping hand to tip the scales back towards equilibrium!
Equally inspiring is the ripple effect these solar installations create — local stakeholders also benefit from this endeavour, as many of the water lines are directed to anti-poaching outposts, freeing forest guards from weekly treks for water and enabling them to focus on safeguarding wildlife.
“This innovation wasn’t just ecological; it aimed to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts, an ever-present reality threatening both communities and wild species,” says Dr Sarita, adding, “By installing solar pumps, water could be provided consistently across various zones within the reserves, ensuring animals didn’t need to wander into human habitats in search of water.”
Today, as noisy water tankers guzzling diesel fall silent, the skies above these reserves take a breath, relieved of carbon emissions. “Forest departments rejoice in reducing their reliance on costly, polluting methods and explore enhanced biodiversity management,” points out Dr Sarita.
Diganth Nayak, the divisional forest officer (DFO) of the Ramnagar Division of Uttarakhand, has been working together with The Earth Brigade Foundation for the last two years. While lauding the efforts of the team, he mentions, “They have set up solar pumps which fill up the water holes as well as provide water to the interior forest chowkis. Earlier, our staff would find it difficult to stay in a remote chowki during the dry season. Things have become much easier after solar pump installations.”
“Last year, we experienced a very dry summer with no winter rains at all. These water holes helped a lot in ensuring wildlife had at least a few points in the jungle where there would be water throughout the year. The water hole ideally needs to be filled up once a week and during hot summers once in 2-3 days. We were earlier dependent on water tankers. On a rough estimate, we now save about Rs 30,000 per year for each water hole because of these solar-pump-based systems,” he adds.
With the help of CSR backing by corporations and funds raised by generous benefactors, the couple continues to carve the path forward. Dr Sarita mentions that it costs them Rs 5 lakh to support a solar-powered water pump in a given forest area.
Despite the challenges of working in remote and often inaccessible areas, the couple has been tirelessly advocating for the seamless integration of clean energy and wildlife protection.
For their efforts, the couple has received many accolades including the Green NGO of the Year award at the International Advertising Association’s Olive Crown Awards and the Times Now Amazing Indian award in the Environment and Sustainability category in 2024.
Meanwhile, Dr Sarita mentions that conservation is not the task of governments alone. “The hands that hold the land’s future are many. When ordinary citizens become gentle but relentless stewards of nature’s bounty, changemakers are born,” she adds.
From the lush forests of Rajasthan to the verdant canopies of Karnataka, their solar installations today span several states. Yet, Kanha held a special place, being “one of the most well-managed parks in India”, and where that unforgettable tigress had made her quiet plea.
Dr Sarita, narrated moments of pure joy and pride — like the time a new litter of cubs from the same tigress were discovered near a water body. The image of that tigress remains etched in her memory as a reminder of the promise she made to nature. The tigress in Kanha may never voice her gratitude, but her languid sigh rings louder than words!
“Stories like these reaffirmed our belief that our efforts were not just conserving fauna but enhancing the intricate web of life that supported the forest ecosystem. When we provide water to wildlife – the natural mute stakeholders of our forests, we create an act so seemingly simple yet profoundly generous, it draws the universe’s blessings upon itself,” she smiles.
Edited by Megha Chowdhury; All images courtesy Dr Sarita Subramanian
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