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ABOUT NILGIRI TAHR

The Nilgiri tahr is the only mountain ungulate in southern India amongst the 12 species present in India. It is also the state animal of Tamil Nadu. The Nilgiri tahr, which used to be found along the entire stretch of Western Ghats, is presently found only in small fragmented pockets. A large part of its population has been wiped out from its historical range. The existing populations are under severe stress due to habitat loss and hunting.

This endemic species of the Western Ghats is listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972. The population of Nilgiri Tahr has been estimated at 3,122* individuals in the wild.

* The figure is an estimate as per the 2015 report by WWF india.

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Help protect Nilgiri tahr - the pride of Tamil Nadu & Western Ghats

YES, I WOULD LIKE TO PROTECT NILGIRI TAHR

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All donations to WWF-India are eligible for 50% tax relief under section 80G of the Income Tax Act,1961.

HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION OF NILGIRI TAHR

The Nilgiri tahr is a sure-footed ungulate that inhabits the open montane grassland habitats at elevations from 1200 to 2600 m of the South Western Ghats. Currently, the Nilgiri tahr distribution is along a narrow stretch of 400 km in the Western Ghats between Nilgiris in the north and Kanyakumari hills in the south of the region.

Though there are smaller populations found in the Palani hills, Srivilliputtur, and the Meghamalai and Agasthiyar ranges, only two well-protected, large populations are documented -- one from the Nilgiris and the other from the Anamalais, including the high ranges of Kerala.

The Eravikulam National Park in Anamalai hills, Kerala, is home to the largest population of the Nilgiri tahr, with more than 700 individuals.

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THREATS TO NILGIRI TAHR

The Nilgiri tahr faces a multitude of threats such as:

Habitat loss due to rampant deforestation, competition with domestic livestock, hydroelectric projects in Nilgiri tahr habitat, and monoculture plantations
Occasional hunting for its meat and skin

As a result of extreme habitat fragmentation, its population has declined drastically in the last few years. Plantation activities affect the Nilgiri tahr habitat, which includes grasslands and sholas.

WHY DO WE NEED TO PROTECT NILGIRI TAHR?

Protecting it also means protecting the Shola-grasslands of the Western Ghats which are the natural water catchment areas that feed the rivers and streams; which ultimately cater to the water needs of the people in the districts around the Ghats of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
The habitat also provides a home to a large number of amphibians, reptiles, fishes, birds, and other mammals

UTILISATION OF FUNDS RAISED

Funds raised will be utilised for protection and conservation of Nilgiri tahr through interventions such as:

Translocation/reintroduction of Nilgiri tahr in their historical habitats
Grassland restoration work in Nilgiri and Anamalai hills
Regular monitoring and conservation of corridors connecting Nilgiri tahr habitats
Capacity building and support to forest department staff across the range to continue regular monitoring

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WWF INDIA'S NILGIRI TAHR CONSERVATION INITIATIVES

WWF India initiated its conservation work on Nilgiri tahr in 2008. In 2012, an assessment on Nilgiri tahr's status, threats faced, habitat, and population size was carried out in the Western Ghats. WWF India published a report on the comprehensive study of the Nilgiri tahr population and its habitat in the hills of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in 2015. It was the first time such a comprehensive report was made.

WWF India continues to undertake regular surveys in the upper reaches of sholas and grasslands in the Western Ghats. It works in close collaboration with the Kerala and Tamil Nadu Forest Departments.

WWF India's work to protect and conserve the Nilgiri tahr population includes:

	Assessment – of Niligiri tahr to evaluate the population size, to identify the major threats to the species, and understand the ecological requirements of Nilgiri tahr.
	Working with local communities – to raise awareness among local people and partner NGOs to initiate steps towards conservation of Nilgiri tahr.
	Health assessment – of herds to evaluate the prevalence of tumours in individuals in Nilgiris and Anamalai. Teams of forest staff and veterinarians have been set up to collect tissue samples for analysis and veterinary diagnosis.
	Behavioural studies for translocation – of herds to reduce the risk of a catastrophe to the species with a single population, improve genetic heterogeneity of separated populations of the species, and aid in natural recovery of this species.

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Awareness campaign on the Nilgiri Tahr

WWF India has been involved in the conservation of Nilgiri tahr for over a decade and has made it a flagship species. Apart from population estimation and study of the habitat and behaviour, WWF India has also launched a campaign to raise awareness among the public about this lesser-known mountain ungulate. This year-long campaign aims to reach out to a different spectrum of the public from school and college students to the local communities living along the Western Ghats in the state of Tamil Nadu, through various on-ground and online engagements. The campaign intends to drive home the ecological importance of Nilgiri tahr and the need to protect it better.