Why is India considering crocodiles and snakes to secure its Bangladesh border?

The Indian government is exploring a controversial plan to deploy apex predators, specifically crocodiles and venomous snakes, as "natural deterrents" along riverine and marshy stretches of the border with Bangladesh, according to an internal Border Security Force (BSF) communication from March 2026.

The proposal, detailed in the document, says it aims to secure areas where difficult terrain—including hills, rivers and valleys—makes traditional fencing "impossible to install", says Al Jazeera.

Border gaps and rationale

India shares a 4,096km (2,545-mile) border with Bangladesh, of which approximately 3,000km has already been fenced. The remaining sections include riverine and low-lying areas where land acquisition issues, local protests and difficult geography have stalled construction.

In this context, the BSF has directed frontier units to explore the "feasibility of deploying reptiles" in these "vulnerable riverine gaps" and to report back on action taken.

Human rights concerns

The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from activists and researchers, who describe it as a form of "biopolitical violence" and the "dehumanisation of undocumented immigrants".

Researchers and human rights advocates characterise the plan as "peak cruelty", with some arguing it reflects broader patterns in border enforcement policy. Angshuman Choudhury, a researcher focused on border states, described it as a new form of "biopolitical violence" that weaponises nature and animals against human beings.

Activist Harsh Mander said the approach involves "extrajudicial methods" in place of judicial processes for handovers, adding that there is no justification for exposing individuals to the lethal threat of crocodiles, snakes or gunpoint.

Critics also argue the policy disproportionately affects religious minorities, particularly Bengali Muslims, and say it is an extension of rhetoric against undocumented migrants used to justify harsher border measures. They describe it as a continuation of "sinister" border control mechanisms intended to keep Bengali Muslims in a state of "ongoing dread" regarding their citizenship.

Safety concerns for local communities

Analysts say a key issue is that predators cannot distinguish between a migrant and a local citizen, meaning the animals would inevitably threaten populations on both sides of the border.

Because the region is prone to flooding, critics also warn that venomous snakes could be swept into residential areas, posing a grave risk to fishing communities and other residents living near the frontier.

Ecological and technical risks

Wildlife experts have raised significant concerns about feasibility and environmental impact.

According to experts cited in the material, crocodiles are not native to some of the targeted riverine stretches and could struggle to survive if relocated outside their natural distribution range, potentially "end up dead soon".

Specialists warn that manipulating the distribution of apex predators could disrupt the regional food chain and ecosystem, affecting other wildlife in the area. They also argue that using reptiles as a deterrent is technically flawed and ineffective in open, flowing river systems.

Further concerns include the risk of flood-driven displacement of snakes and other animals into nearby settlements, as well as broader ecological damage to fragile riverine environments.

Legal and ethical debate

Mander has also argued that the proposal represents a "defiance of the constitution and international principles", saying that relying on "natural deterrents" bypasses the legal requirement to identify and process individuals through established judicial systems.

He added that such an approach relies on predators that cannot identify "illegal infiltrators", raising questions about accountability and proportionality in border enforcement.

There is no modern precedent for using live predators as an international border barrier.

The idea has drawn comparisons to past reports that former US President Donald Trump once considered building a moat filled with alligators and snakes along the southern US border, a claim he dismissed as "fake news".

The BSF communication indicates frontier units have been asked to assess feasibility and report back on implementation steps, but it remains unclear whether the proposal will progress beyond an exploratory stage or be adopted as policy.