Over the course of a winter’s day in the marshlands of Little Rann, Kutchh, one can meet people, plants, and a variety of animals, dispelling the idea that the desert is an arid emptiness. Species at risk of extinction like the wild ass (Equus hemionus khur) compete for survival with domesticated animals kept by the nearby villages. Mesquite trees invade the desolate landscape but provide food, shade, and wood for fuel. The noise from the well pump is a steady reminder that there’s life in the middle of the desert, where the Agariya salt famers work under harsh conditions. The desert is not an empty void.
