Tanker of hope: How one man quenches thirst of Punjab’s forest animals

Hoshiarpur, Punjab: As summer heat dries up streams across Punjab’s Shivalik forests, Harpal Singh Pali heads into the hills with a mission — refilling water holes for wild animals. For the past 15 years, Pali has driven his personal water tanker deep into the forest every summer to ensure wildlife has access to drinking water.

With natural sources vanishing in the scorching months, his solo effort has become a lifeline for deer, wild boar, peacocks, and other animals struggling to survive the heat. “I saw animals wandering for miles without water,” Pali said. “I couldn’t just watch them suffer.”

What started as a personal initiative has now become a yearly ritual. From April to July, Pali makes regular trips across rough forest terrain, locating and refilling natural and man-made water holes. Forest officials and locals credit his work with helping sustain wildlife populations through Punjab’s harshest summers.

In a region where rising temperatures continue to threaten ecosystems, Pali’s quiet dedication has turned one man’s tanker into hope for hundreds of animals. His message is simple: “If we can help, we must.”