Nilgiri Tahr, the Endangered Mountain Ungulate
Redlisted by IUCN Nilgiri tahr is Highly Endangered
Feb 21, 2009
The habitat straddles the mountain terrains of the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is the congener of the Himalayan Tahr, found from Kashmir to Bhutan and the Arabian Tahr, which is confined to the mountain district of Oman and adjoining rocky slopes of Hajar Mountains in United Arab Emirates.
Physical Features of Nilgiri Tahr
Adult Nilgiri Tahr males weigh around 100 kg and stand at 110 cm at shoulder height. Adult females weigh around 50 kg and stands at 80 cm at shoulder height. The animal has a short grey-brown pelage and curving horns. The horns of females are shorter and slender.
Older males are called Saddlebacks as they have distinctive silvery saddle like patch marks on the rump. Their pelage is also darker.
Mountain Habitat of Nilgiri Tahr
Preferred habitat of Nilgiri Tahr is grasslands and rocky patches that run contiguous with it. They graze early in the morning and evenings. There is a lull around midday. Rocky outcrops act as escape cover and are needed for parturition also.
Rocky areas can become a limiting factor in the distribution pattern of Nilgiri Tahr. Extensive grasslands do not guarantee survival of Nilgiri Tahr unless it has its proper share of rocky areas.
Breeding Pattern of Nilgiri Tahr
The main breeding season (rut) of Nilgiri Tahr is from June to August, during the monsoons, according to Dr Clifford G Rice, who has done extensive research on the animal. Fierce fighting sometimes ensues between the males for the possession of the females. Only the fittest get the chance to mate.
The older males usually join the herd only at the onset of the breeding season. Outside the breeding season they live in all-male small groups or singly. Conception is for a period of 6 months. Births occur in January and February. Usually a single baby called a kid is born. Very rarely twinning has been reported.
Details of Nilgiri Tahr biology have been meticulously enumerated in the repository Nilgiritahrinfo also.
Conservation Measures of Nilgri Tahr
The total population of Nilgiri Tahr is around 2000 at present. According to Dr Ranjit Daniels who has done a detailed reconnaissance of Tahr areas a conservative estimate would place the numbers within the range of 1800-2000.
Dr Daniels opines that considering the fragmentation of habitat leading to isolated populations, a landscape level approach where neighboring states are partners is required for the future conservation programmes. The Government of India is coming out with a new policy initiative to make this materialize.
Community Participation in Conservation
India is a thickly populated country. Often the interests of human beings get overriding importance over wildlife. Community participation for conservation is the answer to this dilemma. Authorities in Eravikulam National Park were prudent to realize this and have put appropriate conservation strategies involving local people in place.
What the Future holds For Nilgiri Tahr
Nilgiri Tahr survives in a mere 5% of the Western Ghats region. The future looks bright in Eravikulam National Park and Mukkuruthi National Park in Tamil Nadu where appropriate protection strategies are in place. Elsewhere in the Western Ghats the picture is not very promising. Loss of habitat and pressure exerted by the growing population of human being present a threat to the well being of this flagship species of the mountains.
References
Daniels, R J R (2006) The Nilgiri Tahr: An Endemic South Indian Mountain Goat. New Delhi, MacMilan India Ltd.
Rice, C G (1984) The behavior and ecology of the Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius Ogilby 1838). Unpublished PhD Thesis, Texas, A & M University.
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