The chinkara (Gazella bennettii), also known as the Indian gazelle, is a gazelle species native to Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India – especially the Thar Desert of Rajasthan. The official state animal of Rajasthan, it can be found on arid plains and hills, deserts, dry scrub, and light forests. The Bishnois, a Hindu community primarily found in Rajasthan's Thar Desert, consider the chinkara and blackbuck as sacred animals. There are six subspecies of Chinkara which has plenty of natural predators including Bengal tigers,leopards and Indian wild dogs, also known as dholes.
