What Happened
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin laid the foundation stone (virtually from Chennai) for the Nilgiri Tahr Conservation Centre on Dr. Nanjappa Road in Coimbatore.
- The centre will serve as a hub for research, monitoring, and documentation of the Nilgiri Tahr population in Tamil Nadu.
- It is a key component of Project Nilgiri Tahr, launched in October 2023 for the conservation of Tamil Nadu's State animal.
- The centre aims to enable evidence-based conservation planning and long-term ecological stewardship.
- Tamil Nadu's second synchronised survey recorded 1,303 Nilgiri Tahrs in the state.
Static Topic Bridges
Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius)
The Nilgiri Tahr is a mountain ungulate endemic to the southern Western Ghats, found only in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Originally classified under the genus Hemitragus, it was reclassified to the monotypic genus Nilgiritragus in 2005 based on phylogenetic analysis. It inhabits montane grasslands (shola-grassland ecosystems) at elevations between 1,200 and 2,600 metres.
- IUCN Status: Endangered
- Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
- Tamil Nadu State Animal
- Range: Approximately 400 km stretch in the southern Western Ghats (Tamil Nadu and Kerala)
- Population: The first synchronised survey across both states (April 2025) recorded approximately 2,668 individuals — 1,365 in Kerala and 1,303 in Tamil Nadu
- Eravikulam National Park (Kerala) hosts the largest single population with over 700 individuals and the highest density worldwide
- Major threats: Habitat loss, invasive species (particularly wattle and eucalyptus plantations), livestock grazing, poaching, and landscape fragmentation
Connection to this news: The new conservation centre in Coimbatore institutionalises research infrastructure under Project Nilgiri Tahr, providing a permanent base for population monitoring, ecological studies, and coordinated conservation planning for this endemic endangered species.
Project Nilgiri Tahr (2023)
Project Nilgiri Tahr is a species-specific conservation initiative launched by the Tamil Nadu government on October 23, 2023, with a budget of Rs 25.14 crore. It is implemented in partnership with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
- Objectives: (1) Better understanding of population distribution and ecology, (2) Reintroduction to historic habitats, (3) Addressing proximate threats
- Key activities: Bi-annual synchronised surveys, radio-collaring for movement tracking, habitat restoration, and invasive species removal
- A full-time project director has been appointed with an office in Coimbatore
- The project follows the model of species-specific conservation programs like Project Tiger (1973), Project Elephant (1992), and Project Snow Leopard (2009)
- India has a history of species recovery through dedicated projects — the model works by combining protected area management, scientific research, community involvement, and targeted funding
Connection to this news: The conservation centre represents the physical infrastructure component of Project Nilgiri Tahr, creating a dedicated research facility to support the project's scientific and monitoring objectives.
Endemic Species of the Western Ghats
The Western Ghats is one of the world's 36 biodiversity hotspots (as per Conservation International) and one of the eight "hottest hotspots" of biological diversity. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2012) and harbours an exceptionally high proportion of endemic species.
- The Western Ghats stretches approximately 1,600 km along the western coast of India, covering six states (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu)
- Over 7,402 species of flowering plants, 1,814 species of non-flowering plants, 139 mammal species, 508 bird species, 179 amphibian species
- Endemism: About 35% of plant species and 53% of fish species are endemic
- Key endemic mammals: Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Marten, Malabar Large-spotted Civet, Lion-tailed Macaque
- The Palghat Gap (a 30 km wide break in the mountain chain) creates a biogeographic barrier, resulting in genetically diverged populations of species including the Nilgiri Tahr on either side
- Shola-grassland ecosystems at higher elevations are critical habitats for the Nilgiri Tahr and are increasingly threatened by invasive species and climate change
Connection to this news: The Nilgiri Tahr is a flagship species of the Western Ghats montane ecosystem, and its conservation directly supports the broader goal of protecting this globally significant biodiversity hotspot.
Key Facts & Data
- Nilgiri Tahr scientific name: Nilgiritragus hylocrius (formerly Hemitragus hylocrius)
- IUCN status: Endangered; WPA 1972: Schedule I
- Tamil Nadu State Animal
- Total estimated population: ~2,668 (2025 synchronised survey)
- Habitat elevation: 1,200–2,600 m in the southern Western Ghats
- Project Nilgiri Tahr: Launched October 23, 2023; Budget: Rs 25.14 crore
- Partners: WII, WWF, TANUVAS, IUCN
- Largest population: Eravikulam National Park, Kerala (700+ individuals)
- Western Ghats: 1 of 36 global biodiversity hotspots; UNESCO World Heritage Site (2012)