Tamil Nadu Conservation Initiative

9 Oct 2025

Tamil Nadu Conservation Initiative

Recently, Tamil Nadu government sanctioned Rs 1 crore for conserving four lesser-known endangered species, shifting focus beyond flagship animals.

About the Initiative

  • Aims to protect the lion-tailed macaque, Madras hedgehog, striped hyena, and hump-headed mahseer.
  • Supports habitat monitoring, ecological surveys, and long-term population studies.
  • Establishes conservation breeding centres and special interventions like canopy bridges for macaques.
  • Promotes community awareness, staff training, and in-situ breeding/release programmes for mahseer revival.

Conservation Details of Targeted Species

Species Conservation Status (IUCN) Description
Lion-tailed Macaque

Tamil Nadu Conservation Initiative

Endangered
  • Endemic to Western Ghats
    • Range: Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
  • It is arboreal, Omnivorous (Mostly frugivorous diet) and diurnal activity.
Madras Hedgehog

Tamil Nadu Conservation Initiative

Data Deficient
  • Nocturnal; 
  • Semi-arid landscapes of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala.
  • Understudied and unprotected
Striped Hyena

Tamil Nadu Conservation Initiative

Near Threatened
  • Natural scavenger
  • It is the only extant species in the genus Hyaena.
  • It is native to North and East Africa, the Middle East, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent
  • Their population is declining in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu.
Hump-headed Mahseer

Tamil Nadu Conservation Initiative

Critically Endangered 
  • Once an abundant fish in Moyar River.
    • It is a tributary of the Bhavani River, which eventually merges with the Cauvery River.
  • Threatened by dams, destructive fishing, invasive species.

Significance of the Initiative

  • The programme strengthens biodiversity conservation by protecting lesser-known endangered species and reducing human-wildlife conflict. 
  • It builds on Tamil Nadu’s recent conservation milestones, including the Dugong Conservation Reserve in Palk Bay, the Kadavur Slender Loris Sanctuary, and Project Nilgiri Tahr, aligning with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’s 30×30 goals.

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Montreal 30×30 Target: The initiative aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, aiming to protect 30% of land and marine areas by 2030 to enhance ecological resilience.

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UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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