Nilgiri Tahr

06.11.2023

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Why in the news?

Recently, the Tamil Nadu state government has allocated Rs 25 crore for the Nilgiri Tahr Project, which was launched in 2022 for the safety and conservation of the animals.   

Important points:

• The Nilgiri Tahr is the state animal of Tamil Nadu and the state celebrates October 7 as Nilgiri Tahr Day to honor hunter-turned-conservationist ERC Davider.
• The Nilgiri Tahr is mentioned in the oldest Tamil epic Silapathikaram as 'Varai Aadu'.

About Nilgiri Tahr:

• Nilgiri tahr, a mountain goat found in the highlands of the Western Ghats.
• The scientific name of Nilgiri Tahr is Nilgiritragus hylocrius.
• Nilgiri Tahr is locally known as "Varai Aadu".
• Nilgiri Tahr is also known as Mountain Monarch.
• Silappatikaram and Sivakasindamani, two of the five great epics of the Sangam period, contain descriptions of the Nilgiri Tahar and its habitat.
• The Nilgiri Tahar is also described in a song "Kurathi Malai Valam Kooral" from the play, Koortalar Kuravanji, written by Trikudarsappa Kavirayar in 1600-1700 AD.
• The Nilgiri tahr is the only mountain ungulate in southern India among the 12 species present in India.
• According to a report released by WWF India in 2015, their population is approximately 3,122 in the wild.
• It is a sure-footed (non-slippery) ungulate that inhabits open montane grasslands at an altitude of 1200 to 2600 m in the South Western Ghats.

Distribution of Nilgiri Tahr:

• It is endemic to the Western Ghats but currently large populations are found only in the Nilgiris and Anamalai.
• Eravikulam National Park in Kerala is home to the largest population of Nilgiri Tahr.
• They have smaller populations in the Palani Hills, Srivilliputtur, and the Meghamalai and Agasthiyar ranges.

Danger:

• Habitat loss and sometimes hunting for its meat and skin.

conservation status :

• IUCN Status – Endangered
• Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 - Schedule.

Nilgiri Tahr Conservation Project:

• The Government of Tamil Nadu had started a project for the conservation of Nilgiri Tahr in the year 2022 at a cost of Rs 25.14 crore.
• This project will be implemented during 2022-2027.