Published Aug 06, 2025 | 8:18 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 06, 2025 | 8:18 AM
Nilgiri Tahr. (Kerala Tourism)
In a joint Nilgiri tahr census, Kerala and Tamil Nadu recorded a total population of 2,668 Nilgiri tahrs, with 1,365 in Kerala and 1,303 in Tamil Nadu.
Eravikulam National Park (ENP) in Munnar, Kerala, emerged as the stronghold, housing 841 tahr — the largest contiguous population. Officials credited the park’s controlled grassland burning practice for the increase, which ensures fresh grazing grounds.
Munnar Wildlife Warden KV Harikrishnan highlighted that 1,126 tahr in Kerala were concentrated in the Munnar landscape, with 144 births reported this year in ENP alone. The controlled burns, done every three years across 97 sq km, replicate traditional Muthuvan tribal methods and enhance food availability and tahr productivity.
Tamil Nadu’s major tahr populations are in Mukurthi and Grass Hills National Parks. The census, held over four days using standardised methods like ‘Bounded Count’ and ‘Double Observer’, covered 89 blocks in Kerala and 182 in Tamil Nadu.
Officials emphasised the need for interstate cooperation to protect habitats and restore fragmented populations. The census findings were released in Thiruvananthapuram by Kerala Forest Minister AK Saseendran, marking the 50th anniversary of Eravikulam National Park.
