No other large desert is so densely populated by humans.
Its remarkably abundant and diverse wildlife also defies preconceived notions of deserts as “empty” or “barren” places.
Most of the Thar Desert is in northwest India; the other 15% is in Pakistan.
The greater portion is in Rajasthan.
(photo is copyright Doug Spencer, taken at 7.55 am on 18 February 2020)
Gazella Bennettii, Indian Gazelles/ Chinkara are shy animals.
The ones in this post’s image were photographed in the Desert National Park, near Jaisalmer.
Look carefully at the photo and you can see that it is not a place where the only humans are park rangers, guides, tourists and nomads.
There are numerous villages within the National Park.
When conditions permit, local people plant crops, and more than a few farmers raise sheep, goats, cattle and camels.
The Thar Desert is also home to some of India’s finest musicians.
…of which, more, eventually, when Pelican Yoga returns to “normal”.
Meanwhile, be aware that resident humans’ impact on the Thar Desert’s wildlife is definitely not all “negative”.
Click here for an overview of the Thar Desert, and this for more about Chinkara/Indian Gazelles.
This video is musically rewarding (unlike so many online videos of Rajasthani musicians, this one is not wrecked by utterly dreadful sound quality), and visually too – it was shot in and around Jaisalmer.
Thank you for this and the link to more, Doug… I sometimes used to walk through the ‘office’ saying ‘ when I’m old I’m going to be a bag lady in Rajasthan’ … years later someone called out and stopped me in the street to say …. “ I’ve been to Rajasthan on holiday and I now ‘get it’ ; I used to think you were a bit strange but now I understand”