Wildlife at the Border: IG BSF ML Garg on Desert Biodiversity in Rajasthan
In a rare and insightful conversation, Inspector General ML Garg of the Border Security Force (BSF) Rajasthan Frontier discusses the rich wildlife thriving along the India-Pakistan border. Learn how BSF's presence helps protect this unexpected desert ecosystem.
Guardians of the Wild: BSF IG ML Garg Speaks on Rajasthan's Border Biodiversity
Rajasthan, India – In a compelling conversation with Wildlife Moments India, Inspector General of the Border Security Force (BSF) Rajasthan Frontier, Sh. M.L. Garg, shared unique insights into the untouched wilderness thriving along India’s western border.
This discussion forms an integral part of the documentary series Living with Nature, particularly the film Living with Border Security Force, which explores human-wildlife coexistence in the deserts of Rajasthan, right at the fence of the India–Pakistan border.
Despite harsh weather and the region’s militarized reputation, the area is a thriving habitat for rare and resilient species such as Chinkaras, Blackbucks, desert monitor lizards, and spiny-tailed lizards. IG Garg emphasizes that the BSF’s constant presence acts as an unintentional shield for wildlife, discouraging poaching and habitat encroachment.
What makes this initiative more significant is its grounding in data. As part of their journey, the Wildlife Moments India team conducted baseline studies on species diversity and population density. This information, coupled with support from communities like the Bishnois, reveals how border zones function as accidental conservation corridors.
“Wildlife doesn't recognize political boundaries,” IG Garg noted, highlighting the need to balance national security with environmental responsibility. He commended the local villagers for their conservation ethics and hinted at the BSF's growing role in ecological stewardship.
This conversation sheds light on an evolving narrative—wildlife conservation beyond protected areas, supported by unlikely allies such as security forces.
The full documentary and interview with IG Garg are now available on the Wildlife Moments India YouTube channel. It opens new conversations about conservation in conflict-prone zones and the critical need for policies that recognize the ecological value of borderlands.
Watch the full interview here: YouTube – Living with Border Security Force
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