10 Animals That Live In The Thar Desert Of India

Desert fox. Image credit: Sumeet Moghe via Wikimedia Commons

The Thar Desert in Rajasthan, India, can be truly unforgiving. With temperatures rising above 50 degrees Celsius in summer, falling below freezing in winter, and very little rainfall, life here can be very tough. However, nature's design can create wonders, so the species living in this harsh environment are well-adapted to it. For example, the Indian desert cat is gifted with a thick hair tuft on its paw pads to escape the heat, while the chinkara antelope can live without water for long. Despite their adaptions, however, even these desert dwellers are not without threats imposed on them by human activities, and hence, some of these species have already entered the threatened species list. In this article, read about ten interesting species of animals that live in the Thar Desert.

Great Indian Bustard

The Great Indian Bustard. Image credit: Prajwalkm via Wikimedia Commons.

The great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), or GIB, a bird that was once about to become India's national bird but was unfortunately left out for its controversial name, is today on the brink of extinction. It is a critically endangered species, with an estimated 50 to 250 mature individuals left in the wild, exhibiting a decreasing population trend. The GIB is found in the grasslands of arid and semi-desert areas with scattered shrubs. Today, its population is primarily limited to the Thar Desert region of Rajasthan, where organisations like the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) work to conserve the species. Ground nesting behaviour of the species makes the nests and chicks extremely vulnerable to trampling by cattle and people and predation by feral dogs and other predators. With a hatching rate of just around one chick per year, the regeneration time of these birds is also very slow. Other threats to the GIB include habitat loss to agriculture and irrigation, collision with power lines and other linear infrastructure development in its habitat, etc. The Desert National Park near Jaisalmer is one of the last remaining spots to see the GIB in its natural habitat.

Blackbuck

A male blackbuck with many females. Image credit: Antony Grossy via Flickr.com.

The regal male blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) and the beautiful female one with their two-tone colourations grace the grasslands and scrub jungles of Rajasthan, with populations in parts of the Thar Desert where water is available throughout the year. With the expansion of agriculture into the Thar, however, the range of these antelopes is increasing. Blackbucks are especially numerous near the areas where Bishnoi communities live, as these people protect these animals as part of their culture. Prior to the re-introduction of cheetahs in India in 2022, the blackbucks were the fastest-running terrestrial mammals in the country, moving as fast as 80 km per hour! The Tal Chhapar Sanctuary, around 210 km from Jaipur, in the Thar Desert area, is a great location to spot blackbucks.

Scorpion

A desert scorpion. Image credit: Smithsonian Institution Insect Zoo via Flickr.com.

What is a desert without a scorpion? The Thar, too, has its share of these arachnids, with Buthacus agarwali being one such species. These scorpions dig out shallow burrows in the sand and take cover in them. These prey on insects and help keep the desert ecosystem's insect population in check.

Desert Fox

Indian desert fox in Tal Chappar Sanctuary. Image credit: Dibyendu Ash via Wikimedia Commons.

Also called the white-footed fox (vulpes vulpes pusilla), this adorable little being, almost the size of a house cat, is very well adapted to survive the harsh desert environment. Its bushy tail with a white tip is its most distinguishing feature. It sports fur that is a mix of sandy, white, and grey colour and has large ears that help it detect prey easily and long hind legs that allow it to run fast. The desert fox digs dens in the sand, where they often hide to escape predators. They are omnivores, feeding on both plants and animals like desert rodents, small birds, insects, etc. These foxes are a delight to wildlife photographers, and the Desert National Park and Tal Chhapar Sanctuary are two of the best places to see them in the Thar Desert area.

Indian Spiny-tailed Lizard

An Indian spiny-tailed lizard. Image credit: Vaidyarupal via Flickr.com.

The Thar Desert is one of the last strongholds of this threatened species (Saara hardwickii) of lizard listed as "vulnerable" by the IUCN. The lizard is mostly herbivorous, feeding on fruits and flowers of desert plants like khair and khejri. It serves as prey for several raptor species found in the desert like the laggar and tawny eagle. This lizard digs burrows with channels in the ground and often basks near the burrow's entrance for safety. Sadly, nomadic communities extensively hunt this lizard in the desert area for its meat and traditional medicines.

Chinkara

Chinkara from Jorbeer near Bikaner, Rajasthan, India. Image credit: Mvshreeram via Wikimedia Commons.

Unlike the blackbuck, the chinkara (Gazella bennettii) is more widespread, as it can tolerate more arid conditions than the blackbuck. This dainty-looking antelope is a facultative drinker that can go without water for long periods and extract water from the plants they eat or the dewdrops that collect on flora. In the Thar Desert, like blackbucks, they are also common around Bishnoi villages as members of this community ensure the safety of these animals.

Sochurek's Saw-scaled Viper

Echis carinatus sochureki from Tal Chhapar, Rajasthan, India. Image credit: Mvshreeram via Wikimedia Commons.

One of the most venomous viper species, this subspecies (Echis carinatus sochureki) of the saw-scaled viper is larger than its counterparts found in the Western Ghats region. It lives in the desert, where it hides under rocks or in scrub vegetation during the day except when it comes out to bask in the sun. It grows to around 2 feet long and is nocturnal, hunting at night for rodents, small birds, lizards, etc.. On rare occasions, it has been photographed moving on the desert sand, perfectly camouflaged in its habitat by its sand-coloured scale patterns. The viper produces a hemotoxic venom potent enough to kill an adult human.

Laggar Falcon

The laggar falcon. Image credit: The Belurs via Flickr.com.

The Thar Desert serves as home to this gorgeous, mid-sized raptor species (Falco jugger) that is an important part of the desert ecosystem. The laggar preys on small mammals, birds, and reptiles found in the desert, keeping their populations in check. Over the years, the number of this species has declined rapidly due to the intense use of pesticides that enter this bird's system through the prey it consumes and adversely affect its health. Thus, the IUCN now labels this species as "near-threatened."

Indian Desert Jird/Gerbil

The Indian desert jird. Image credit: Image credit: Vaidyarupal via Flickr.com.

This species (Meriones hurrianae) serves as prey for many species of predators found in the Thar Desert, from raptors to reptiles to mammals. It is usually found in desert areas with firm grounds and not sand dunes or rocky outcrops. Spotting one is not so easy as they easily blend with the desert due to their small size, colour, and swift movements. The jird lives in burrows on the ground and exhibits seasonal changes in behaviour. In winter, it remains active between sunrise and sunset, while in summer, it is most active in the early morning and before sunset. The desert gerbil also changes its diet as per season. This omnivore feeds on plant matter following the rains but in the hot summer, insects are its primary food. Their burrows also lead to a maze of tunnels that allow them to trick predators and escape quickly. Thus, this species is well-adapted for its desert life.

The Indian Desert Cat

The Indian desert cat. Image credit: Raja Bandi via Wikimedia Commons.

Also called the Asiatic wildcat (Felis lybica ornata), this enigmatic felid is an elusive resident of the Thar Desert. The Desert National Park is one of the best places to spot this nocturnal species, although a lot of luck is needed for that. The Indian desert jird or gerbil is the favourite prey of this species. This small cat, about the size of a house cat, adorns a sandy-coloured coat with black dots and a tail with black rings ending in a black tip. The dense hair covering the forelimb pads of this cat allows it to walk long distances on the hot desert floor.