Population of Tamil Nadu's state animal Nilgiri Tahr rises, thanks to efforts of Stalin govt

Chennai: Nilgiri Tahr, Tamil Nadu’s state animal, which once inhabited a large portion of the biodiversity-rich Western Ghats, has registered a 21 percent increase in its population compared to last year, according to the synchronized survey conducted in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

The second synchronized Nilgiri Tahr Survey 2025 recorded 1,303 Nilgiri Tahrs, an increase from 1,031 in 2024, covering 36 new blocks in addition to the 140 blocks surveyed last year. The survey was carried out across 177 blocks in 14 divisions, covering 3,126 km on foot with 786 frontline staff in 177 identified Nilgiri Tahr habitats over a period of four days.

Akkamalai Grass Hills in the Western Ghats, which is part of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, recorded 334 Nilgiri Tahr, while Mukurthi National Park recorded 282, accounting for about 50 percent of the total Nilgiri Tahrs found. A significant number of Nilgiri Tahrs were found in Kerala as well.

“We have started an ambitious species recovery program using science-backed, evidence-based methods, including radio-collaring, drone surveillance, and community engagement,” said Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment and Forests.

She added that this is a defining moment and a scientific milestone that lays the foundation for the long-term conservation of the species.

Nilgiri Tahr, known as Varaiaadu in Tamil, is classified as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of threatened species and is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972.

In the past few decades, Nilgiri Tahr, which has been richly mentioned in Tamil Sangam literature, has become locally extinct in around 14 percent of its traditional shola-grassland habitat.

The ‘Nilgiri Tahr’ project, conceived in 2022, has nine components, including bi-annual synchronized surveys across divisions, tranquilization, collaring and monitoring of Tahr individuals, re-introduction and monitoring of Nilgiri Tahr, Shola Grassland restoration pilot in Upper Bhavani, and eco-tourism programs.

The project also aims to restore the original habitat of the Nilgiri Tahr and plans to reintroduce the species in some of the areas where it originally lived.

Though Nilgiri Tahr can live up to about nine years in the wild, their effective lifespan is approximately three years due to a high infant mortality rate.

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature’s 2015 report, it is estimated that there are 3,122 Nilgiri Tahrs in the wild, divided into five metapopulation blocks based on habitat connectivity.

Officials also said that since over-exploitation of forest resources can pose a threat to Nilgiri Tahr, emphasis will be placed on securing the support of local communities and stakeholders for the conservation of the species.