Nilgiri Tahr, IUCN Status, Habitat, Conservation Project
UPSC Prelims
Current affairs
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Gajendra Singh Godara
Aug 18, 2025
8
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The Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) is an endangered mountain ungulate endemic to the southern part of the Western Ghats, its population has declined drastically over the past century due to habitat loss and fragmentation. The Nilgiri Tahr is classified as Endangered (IUCN Red List) and protected under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, reflecting its high conservation priority. As a flagship species of the Western Ghats, the Nilgiri Tahr’s fate is closely tied to the health of its mountain habitat, spurring ongoing efforts by government and wildlife organizations (like WWF India) to ensure its survival.
Ungulate: A herbivorous hoofed mammal; e.g., cow, sheep, horse, camels etc.
Why in the News?
In April 2025, the first synchronized Nilgiri Tahr census across Tamil Nadu and Kerala found 2,668 Nilgiri Tahrs in the wild. Kerala is home to 1,365 of these (over half the global population) and Tamil Nadu about 1,303. Eravikulam National Park (Munnar, Kerala) alone recorded 841 Tahrs, the single largest contiguous population. The Nilgiri Tahr population has been in the news due to these conservation efforts and studies.
Nilgiri Tahr: Key Facts and Status
Aspect | Details |
Scientific Name | Nilgiritragus hylocrius (Only species in the genus Nilgiritragus) |
Common Names | Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Ibex, Varaiadu (Tamil, meaning “rock goat”) |
Emblematic | State Animal of Tamil Nadu (emblematic species for the state’s rich Western Ghats heritage) It is the only mountain ungulate in southern India. |
Endemic Range | Western Ghats of South India (Tamil Nadu & Kerala) – notably the Nilgiri Hills and southern Western Ghats. Absent north of Nilgiris. |
Habitat | High-altitude montane grasslands and shola (evergreen) forests at 1,100–2,600 m. Prefers open grassy slopes, cliffs, and rocky outcrops interspersed with shola patches. |
Population (Wild) | ~2,700 individuals (2025). Kerala: ~1,365; Tamil Nadu: ~1,303 (from 2025 joint census). Historically, estimated ~3,000 in the early 2000s. |
Largest Population | Eravikulam National Park, Munnar (Kerala) – ~800 Nilgiri Tahrs (841 counted in 2025). This park is a crucial stronghold (holds >50% of the world population). |
Nilgiri Tahr IUCN Status Red List | Endangered (population decreasing). |
Wildlife Protection Act | Schedule I (highest protection in India). Hunting or capturing is illegal. |
Major Threats | Habitat loss and fragmentation (due to deforestation, hill agriculture, hydro-projects); invasive plants (like exotic shrubs and wattle affecting grasslands); overgrazing by domestic livestock; poaching/illegal hunting; forest fires; climate change (potentially could shrink ~60% of habitat by 2030s under moderate scenarios). |
Ecological Role | Keystone herbivore in montane ecosystems – Grazing by Tahr helps maintain grassland health and nutrient cycling. coexists with other Western Ghats endemics like the Nilgiri langur and Lion-tailed macaque, is prey for apex predators (tigers, leopards, dholes). |
Conservation Initiatives | Nilgiri Tahr Project (Tamil Nadu, 2023–27) – aims at habitat restoration, population monitoring (surveys, radio-collaring), reintroduction to former ranges, and public awareness |
Features of Nilgiri Tahr
Build and Coat:
Nilgiri Tahrs are stocky goats with short, coarse fur. Their coat is generally grayish-brown, and adults have a thick bristly mane running along the back. This mane is more pronounced in males.
Sexual Dimorphism:
Males (bucks) are larger and heavier than females (does).
Adult males develop a darker brown to almost black coat as they mature, whereas females and juveniles remain lighter brown/tan.
Old males often exhibit a whitish “saddle patch” on their back, earning the nickname “saddlebacks.”
Horns:
Both sexes have curved horns made of keratin.
However, male horns are thicker, longer (can reach ~40 cm), and more prominently curved than the females’ thinner horns.
The horns sweep backward in an elegant arc, aiding in dominance fights and defense.
Facial Markings:
Mature males have distinctive facial features – a rough, dark face with a Roman nose and often a light-colored cheek stripe.
In contrast, females have a relatively uniform face color. Both sexes have keen eyesight to navigate their precipitous habitat.
Adaptations:
As mountain ungulates, Nilgiri Tahrs possess specialized hooves with a rubbery core and hard rim, providing grip on slippery rocks.
Their powerful limbs and low center of gravity help in climbing steep cliffs.
These adaptations, combined with their agility, allow them to evade predators on rugged terrain.
Nilgiri Tahr Habitat and Distribution
The Nilgiri Tahr, Tamil Nadu's state animal, is a keystone grazer and an indicator of ecosystem health in the fragile shola–grassland habitat of the Western Ghats.
It inhabits open montane grasslands and interspersed shola forests between 1200 to 2600 meters elevation, mainly across Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
The Eravikulam National Park (Kerala) holds the largest and densest population, about 841 individuals as per the 2025 joint census.
The recent Nilgiri Tahr Project (2022–27) focuses on habitat restoration, research, radio-collaring, and adaptive management to mitigate climate impact and maintain population connectivity.
The species covers a roughly 400 km stretch of the Western Ghats, including priority conservation areas like Munnar Eravikulam National Park.
Tracking seasonal movements and corridors is critical for sustaining the tahr population and the wider ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and water security.
These themes are highly relevant for Nilgiri Tahr UPSC preparations, especially for biodiversity and species-specific conservation topics.
Threats and Conservation Challenges
Threats: Montane grasslands have been severely degraded due to afforestation with invasive species (e.g., wattle, eucalyptus) and land conversion for plantations. These practices disrupt native grasslands, diminishing forage for Tahrs. Further fragmentation from human settlements, roads, and dams isolates populations.
In 2022–2023, Project Nilgiri Tahr was launched—the first state‑level wild mammal conservation initiative in India. The 2025 joint census by TN and Kerala estimated 2,668 Tahrs across both states, including 841 in Eravikulam NP, the largest single population. Key strategies include:
Habitat restoration: removal of invasive trees and weeds, and pilot reforestation in Upper Bhavani.
Surveys & research: biannual synchronized censuses, drone/GIS mapping, camera traps, DNA analysis.
Wildlife management: exploring reintroduction to historically extinct zones like Glenmorgan post-habitat viability assessments.
Innovative monitoring: radio-collaring selected individuals to map movement and corridor needs.
Community involvement and landmark awareness: eco-tourism during Neelakurinji flowering, school outreach, and celebration of Nilgiri Tahr Day on October 7 commemorating E.R.C. Davidar’s legacy.
Inter-state coordination: synchronized management across TN and Kerala landscapes.
Consequently, protecting the Nilgiri Tahr and its habitat not only preserves a vulnerable endemic species but also safeguards essential ecosystem services, supports water security, and enhances climate resilience in the Western Ghats
About Nilgiri Tahr Conservation Project
Launched by the Tamil Nadu government, the Nilgiri Tahr Project (2022–27) aims to conserve the state animal and its habitat.
It focuses on developing a clear understanding of the Nilgiri Tahr population through synchronized surveys and radio telemetry studies.
The project plans to reintroduce Tahrs to their historical habitats with lower human pressure.
It addresses proximate threats like diseases and habitat degradation through targeted interventions.
Public awareness campaigns are designed to highlight the species’ ecological and cultural importance.
Preservation Measures for Nilgiri Tahr
Key protected habitats include Eravikulam NP, Mukurthi NP, Silent Valley NP, Anamalai TR, Palani Hills WS, Srivilliputhur Squirrel Sanctuary, and Kalakad‑Mundanthurai TR.
Eravikulam National Park remains the stronghold with about 841 Nilgiri Tahrs (~90% of Kerala’s population) as per the 2025 census.
An Interstate Nilgiri Tahr landscape proposal aims to enhance connectivity across Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
The 2025 synchronized census counted 2,668 individuals (Kerala: 1,365; Tamil Nadu: 1,303) using drones, GIS, and double observer methods, showing a 21% rise in Kerala’s population.
Scientific management includes disease surveillance, controlled burning, salt licks, and rescue protocols.
Community efforts via Eco-Development Committees promote fire prevention, invasive species control, and regulated ecotourism.
Nilgiri Tahr Day (Oct 7) and its status as the state animal of Tamil Nadu enhance public awareness.
TN-Kerala coordination continues through shared surveys and management, supported by central government schemes like IDWH and ongoing efforts to extend the UNESCO Western Ghats World Heritage boundary.
In conclusion, the Nilgiri Tahr stands as a symbol of the fragile montane ecosystems of the Western Ghats and the challenges of wildlife conservation in a human-populated landscape. The ongoing efforts – from the ambitious Project Nilgiri Tahr to community engagement and scientific research – provide hope that this “Mountain Monarch” will continue to grace the cliffs of Tamil Nadu and Kerala for generations to come.
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