Nilgiri Tahr Project

 The state government of Tamil Nadu has launched the Nilgiri Tahr project to conserve the state animal.

The Nilgiri Tahr is an ungulate that is endemic to the southern portion of the Western and Eastern Ghats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is mainly found the Nilgiri Hills. It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu. It is the only mountain ungulate in southern India among the 12 species found in India.

In the past, the species was found along the entire stretch of the Western Ghats. It is currently spotted only in the small fragmented pockets. Majority of the population is not found in its historic range and the existing ones are struggling to survive due to various challenges. The species has been listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Due to the numerous threats the ungulate faces, it is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972.

It is currently under the threat of local extinction due to challenges like fragmentation of the habitats, invasion of exotic species, wildfires, over-exploitation of forest resources and the lack of ecological data or understanding.

What is Nilgiri Tahr conservation project?

• The Nilgiri Tahr conservation project was launched by the Tamil Nadu Government with a total outlay of Rs.25.14 crore.
• It will be implemented from 2022 to 2027.
• Under this project, the state government seeks to improve the understanding of the Nilgiri Tahr’s present population status through surveys and radio telemetry studies.
• It also aims to reintroduce these ungulates to their historic habitats and address threats that are faced by them.
• The initiative also aims to increase the public awareness about the species.
• This project will be funded by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.

Furthermore, the state government has designated October 7 as the ‘Niligiri Tahr Day’ in honour of E.R.C. Davidar, who played a major role in pioneering one of the earliest studies on the species in 1975.

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