- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister recently launched ‘The Nilgiri Tahr’ project for the
conservation of Tamil Nadu’s state animal. - Nilgiri Tahr is an endangered mountain ungulate endemic to the southern part of the
Western Ghats. - Scientific Name: Nilgiritragus hylocrius
- Locally, the animal is called ‘Varayaadu’.
- They are known for their gravity-defying skills in climbing steep cliffs, earning them the
nickname Mountain Monarch. - It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu.
- Their present distribution is limited to approximately 5% of the Western Ghats in
southern India (Kerala and Tamil Nadu). - Eravikulam National Park in Kerala has the highest density and largest surviving
population of Nilgiri tahr. - They inhabit the open montane grassland habitats at elevations from 1200 to 2600 m of
the South Western Ghats.
Features: - It has a stocky body with short, coarse fur and a bristly mane.
- Males are larger than females and of a darker color when mature.
- Both sexes have curved horns, which are larger in the males, reaching up to 40 cm in
males and 30 cm in females. - Adult males develop a light grey area or ’saddle’ on their backs and are hence called
‘saddlebacks’. - It has a short grey-brown or dark coat.
Conservation Status: - IUCN Red List: Endangered
- Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972: Schedule I
