India’s ponds: small waters, big biodiversity

India’s ponds are easy to overlook precisely because they are so familiar. Many of us remember a pond not by a signboard or a map, but by the life around it: fish breaking the surface, frogs calling after rain, dragonflies hovering above the water, and an egret waiting patiently at the edge.

Across the country, these water bodies have local names that reflect distinct landscapes and traditions. In Bengal, a pond is often a *pukur*; in Rajasthan, a *johad*; in Tamil Nadu, an *eri* or *kulam*; in Karnataka, a *kere*; in Odisha, a *pokhari*; elsewhere, a *talao*; and in Assam, a *beel*. They may be fed by rain, runoff, groundwater or channels. They may be deep or shallow, perennial or seasonal. Those differences are not just hydrological details—they shape which fish, frogs, insects, reptiles and birds can flourish there.

One pond, many lives: the food chain beneath a *pukur* A village *pukur* may sit beside homes, fields or a footpath, yet it can hold a complete living network under its surface.

At the base are algae and aquatic plants, supporting tiny organisms such as plankton and snails. Insects and larvae—along with beetles and mosquito larvae—share the water column with young dragonflies and damselflies, which spend part of their life underwater before emerging as the agile fliers we notice in the monsoon.

Fish, in turn, feed on algae, plants, insects and smaller organisms. Along the edges, frogs hunt insects and take advantage of the shallow margins. Then come the hunters higher up the chain: water snakes feed on fish and frogs, while birds such as kingfishers, pond herons and egrets arrive looking for their next meal.

In the Sundarbans, for instance, a freshwater conservation pond has recorded native fish, frogs, snakes, birds, and dozens of varieties of dragonflies and damselflies—an encouraging reminder that even a single, well-kept pond can support impressive diversity.

When the rains arrive: *johads* and seasonal abundance Rajasthan’s *johads* offer a different lesson: how quickly life returns when water is available.

A *johad* collects monsoon runoff and helps water seep into the ground. In a dry landscape, this can make a tangible difference for nearby wells and fields. Ecologically, the first rains trigger a chain reaction. Once rainwater gathers, algae and plants begin to grow and support insects and other small creatures.

Temporary pools become nurseries. Tadpoles can develop rapidly, frogs arrive to breed, and birds and other animals come to drink and feed. The pond may look quiet for much of the year, but in the monsoon season it can become a hub of activity—proving that “small” water bodies are not minor, and that seasonal wetlands can be just as important as permanent ones.

A familiar pond, a shared opportunity What connects a *pukur* in West Bengal and a *johad* in Rajasthan is the idea that community-scale water bodies can serve multiple roles at once—supporting local biodiversity while helping communities manage water through the seasons.

These ponds are not uniform. Their depth, water source and duration of waterlogging influence which species can breed, feed and survive there. That is why conserving and thoughtfully maintaining diverse pond types matters: it preserves a mosaic of habitats rather than a one-size-fits-all water solution.

For residents, the benefits can be visible in simple ways: fewer dry months, more birds at the edge, and a renewed sense that nature is not separate from daily life. For young people, these ponds can also become outdoor classrooms—places to notice dragonflies, listen for frog calls, and understand how water connects agriculture, wildlife and climate resilience.

**Why it matters:** India’s ponds—whether perennial or seasonal—quietly recharge groundwater and support food chains from plankton to birds, making them practical, local nature-based assets for water security and biodiversity.