Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on October 12, 2023 launched the ‘Project Nilgiri Tahr’ in Chennai.
- He also distributed books to school students to create awareness about the Nilgiri Tahr.
Project features
- The project with an outlay of RS 25 crore, aims to develop a better understanding of Nilgiri Tahr population, distribution and ecology, re-introduction of Nilgiri Tahr to their historic habitats, addressing proximate threat to Nilgiri Tahr, increasing awareness among the public about the Nilgiri Tahr species.
About Nilgiri Tahr
- Nilgiri Tahr is a state animal of Tamil Nadu.
- The Nilgiri tahr is the only mountain ungulate in southern India amongst the 12 species present in India.
- Nilgiri Tahr is an endangered species endemic to the Western Ghats known for their “gravity-defying skills” in climbing steep cliff.
- There are multiple references to Nilgiri Tahr in the Sangam Tamil literature.
- Two epics — Silappathikaram and Sivakasindamani — mention descriptions of the Nilgiri Tahr and its habitat.
- The Eravikulam National Park in Anamalai hills, Kerala, is home to the largest population of the Nilgiri tahr, with more than 700 individuals.
