Rapid Fire
Nilgiri Tahr
- 06 Aug 2025
- 2 min read
A joint census across Kerala and Tamil Nadu recorded 2,668 Nilgiri Tahrs, with 1,365 in Kerala and 1,303 in Tamil Nadu.
Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius)
- About: Also known as Varayaadu or Nilgiri Ibex, it is a caprine ungulate endemic to the Western Ghats , specifically in Tamil Nadu (where it is the state animal) and Kerala.
- It inhabits montane grasslands and shola forests at 1,200–2,600 m elevation, thriving on grassy slopes and rocky cliffs of the Western Ghats.
- The Eravikulam National Park (ENP) in Kerala hosts the largest population with smaller populations in the Palani Hills, Srivilliputtur, Meghamalai, and Agasthiyar Ranges.
- Behaviour & Life Cycle: A diurnal species, with average lifespan of around 3-3.5 years, although the species can live up to 9 years in ideal conditions.
- Threats: Habitat loss (deforestation, hydroelectric projects, monoculture), livestock competition, poaching, and local extinction (e.g., Karnataka highlands).
- Ecological Significance: Key prey for tiger and leopard, coexists with endemic species like the Nilgiri langur and lion-tailed macaque; an indicator of montane grassland health.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN Status: Endangered
- WPA, 1972: Schedule-I
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