Tamil Nadu and Kerala to count Nilgiri tahrs in a first synchronised survey from April 29
- April 27, 2024
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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Tamil Nadu, Kerala to count Nilgiri tahrs in a first synchronised survey from April 29
Subject: Environment
Sec: Species in news
Context:
- Tamil Nadu is set to conduct a population estimation of its State animal, the Nilgiri tahr.
- The Forest Departments of Tamil Nadu and Kerala will collaborate on a three-day synchronised census to count the mountain ungulate.
Methodology:
- The census will employ the bounded count and double observer methods to estimate the Nilgiri tahr population.
- The census will cover key habitats including Eravikulam and Silent Valley National Parks in Kerala, which adjoin the tahr habitats in Tamil Nadu.
Participating Organizations:
- WWF-India, the Wildlife Institute of India, and the Nature Conservation Foundation are involved in developing the scientific techniques used for this population enumeration.
- This census marks a significant, organized effort to gather essential data on the Nilgiri tahr, which will be instrumental in shaping conservation strategies for this species.
About Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius):
- It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu.
- Nilgiri tahrs inhabit montane grasslands with steep, rocky terrains at altitudes between 300 and 2,600 meters above sea level.
- Endemic species of the Western Ghats.
- A 2015 study by WWF-India estimated that there were slightly over 3,100 Nilgiri tahrs in highly fragmented habitats across the Western Ghats, ranging from the Nilgiris in the north to the Kanniyakumari hills in the south.
- The animal is listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and protected under Schedule-I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
Protected Areas | Description |
Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) |
|
Eravikulam National Park |
|
Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) |
|
Silent Valley National Parks |
|
Source: TH