The sighting of Nilgiri tahr-the state animal of Tamil Nadu, in the Mukurthi National Park (Tamil Nadu) have risen from 568 in 2018 to 612 in 2019.
- As per the officials, this was the second consecutive year that an increase in the population of the animal had been recorded in the park, meaning the population of the Nilgiri tahr, also known as the Nilgiri ibex, has risen by 132 since 2016. There was a decrease in tahr numbers in 2017, when a population of only 438 was recorded, down from 480 in 2016.
About Nilgiri Tahr
- The Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus Hylocrius) is an endangered mountain goat species.
- It is listed in schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972
- It is the only species of Caprine ungulate that is found south of the Himalayas in India. The eleven other species of Indian Caprine ungulates are confined to the Himalayan biogeographical zones.
- According to the WWFIndia, the Nilgiri tahr inhabits the open montane grassland habitats at elevations from 1200 to 2600 m (generally above 2000 m) of the South Western Ghats. Their range extends over 400 km from north to south, and Eravikulam National Park is home to the largest population. The other significant concentration is in the Nilgiri Hills, with smaller populations in the Anamalai Hills, Periyar National Park, Palni Hills and other pockets in the Western Ghats south of Eravikulam, almost to India’s southern tip.
- Eravikulam National Park in Munnar (Kerala) is a prime example of a separate safe haven being created to preserve these gentle beings.
- Its sightings in the Mukurthi National Park in Tamil Nadu have risen from 568 in 2018 to 612 in 2019.
- The Tamil name for this specis is “varai ad” or “varai adoo” which translates to “cliff goat”. The comparable Malayalam term is “mala adu”.
