Nilgiri Thar

Source:  TH

Context: Kerala and Tamil Nadu will jointly conduct a Nilgiri Tahr census in April, across 265 census blocks to mark 50 years of Eravikulam National Park.

About Nilgiri Tahr:

• What it is?
  • The Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) is the only mountain ungulate endemic to southern India and the state animal of Tamil Nadu.
• Conservation Status:

• • IUCN Red List: Endangered
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

• Key Biological Features:

• • A sure-footed herbivore found at elevations of 1,200–2,600 metres.
  • Displays sexual dimorphism; males are larger and darker.
  • Adapted to wet, tropical montane climates and active during the day (diurnal).

• Habitat and Distribution:

• • Endemic to the Southern Western Ghats, across Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
    • Eravikulam National Park (Kerala), Mukurthi National Park and Grass Hills National Park (Tamil Nadu), Silent Valley and Agasthyamalai ranges (Kerala–TN border areas).
  • Prefers montane grasslands, shola forests, and rocky highlands.
  • Historical range extended across 400 km; now reduced to fragmented patches.

• Project Nilgiri Tahr (2022–2027) aims to conserve Tamil Nadu’s state animal through scientific surveys, radio telemetry, and reintroduction into historical habitats.
  • According to the recent survey, there are about 1,229 Nilgiri Tahrs in Tamil Nadu and around 827 in Kerala.