Endangered Nilgirithar: Facts you need to know about Tamil Nadu’s state animal | Knowledge News

Designated as the state animal of Tamil Nadu, the Nilgiri Tahr is scientifically known as Nilgiritragus hylocrius. This ungulate mammal is endemic to the southern part of India and is mainly found in the Eastern and Western Ghats in the state of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Nilgiri Tahr, file photo. (Photo credit: Unsplash)

New Delhi: For the first time, the Tamil Nadu forest department is looking forward to a synchronized count of the state animal, the Nilgiri Tahr. The three-day exercise will begin on April 29 and will see over 700 personnel covering the length and breadth of the undulating tahr habitat in the state. To make the research effective, the Tamil Nadu forest department has joined hands with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), the Advanced Institute of Wildlife Sciences (AIWC) and the World Wide Fund for Nature – India (WWF-India). studying the Nilgiri Tahr for several years. These organizations will play an important role in the scientific research into this animal. As the state begins the journey soon, let us know some interesting facts about the animal.

Facts you need to know about the Nilgiri Tahr, the state animal of Tamil Nadu

• Designated as the state animal of Tamil Nadu, the Nilgiri Tahr is scientifically known as Nilgiritragus hylocrius. This ungulate mammal is endemic to the southern part of India and is mainly found in Eastern and Western Ghats in the state of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. They prefer to stay at an altitude between 1,200 and 2,600 meters.
• Closely related to the sheep of the genus Ovis, the Nilgiri Tahr is the only species in the genus Nilgiritragus, which is derived from the Tamil word Nilakiri meaning blue hills and the Greek word tragos meaning goat.
• With a short, coarse coat and bushy mane, the Nilgiri Tahr is a stocky goat, and males are darker than females when mature.
• Weighing between 80 and 100 kg and a shoulder height of about 100 cm, the Nilgiri Tahr of an adult male is larger than that of a female. In addition, adult males are also called saddlebacks because they develop a light gray area on their back.
• With over 700 Nilgiri Tahr, Eravikulam National Park in Anamalai Hills, Kerala has the largest population of Nilgiri Tahr.
• This state animal of Tamil Nadu is listed as an endangered animal on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Furthermore, it is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972. According to a report published by WWF India in 2015, the population of the Nilgiri Tahr is estimated at 3,122 individuals in the forest.
• This wild animal faces threats to its population due to rapid deforestation, hydroelectric projects in the Nilgiri Tahr habitat, competition with domestic livestock and monoculture plantations.