The people of Bison Valley at the foothills of Chokramudi hills are protesting against construction activities carried out by land buyers on these ecologically sensitive slopes, home to the endangered Neelakurinji and the Nilgiri Tahr

About Nilgiri Tahr

• The Nilgiri Tahr (also known as Nilgiri Ibex or Varaiaadu) is the state animal of Tamil Nadu. 
• It holds significant cultural and ecological value, as mentioned in the Tamil Sangam literature Silapathikaram and Seevagasinthamani, dating back 2,000 years. 
• Adult males are known as Saddlebacks due to the distinctive light grey patch on their backs. 
• This is the only mountain ungulate species found in southern India.

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Habitat and Distribution

• Distribution: Endemic to the southern Western Ghats, primarily in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
• Habitat: Nilgiri Tahr thrives in tropical montane grasslands, Shola forests, and rocky high-altitude regions.
• Key Location: The Eravikulam National Park in Kerala has the largest surviving population with the highest density of Nilgiri Tahr.
• Adaptation: Adapted to the cold, wet environments of high elevations, the species is diurnal and has a high stress tolerance.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Status: Endangered
• Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972: Listed in Schedule-I, providing the highest level of protection.
• The population of the Nilgiri Tahr has drastically declined due to habitat loss and hunting.
• According to a 2015 WWF report, the wild population was estimated at 3,122 individuals, although they once roamed the entire Western Ghats.

Project Nilgiri Tahr

• Launched by the Tamil Nadu Government in December 2022 for a duration of five years (2022-2027).
• It aims to conserve the state animal by expanding its habitat and raising public awareness with an estimated cost of ₹25.14 crore
• Objectives:
  • Conduct surveys and radio telemetry studies to better understand the population.
  • Reintroduce Nilgiri Tahr to its historical habitats.
  • Address immediate threats to the species.

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