Nilgiri Tahr
Nilgiri Tahr
Why In News:
The Nilgiri Tahr population in Tamil Nadu has risen to 1,364, a 4.68% increase over the previous count.
Project Nilgiri Tahr:
Key Facts for Prelims:
The Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) is the State Animal of Tamil Nadu.
It is an ungulate (mountain goat) endemic to the Western Ghats, found mainly in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
IUCN Status: Endangered. Listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which provides the highest level of protection.
Eravikulam National Park in Kerala hosts the largest population of the Nilgiri Tahr.
Project Nilgiri Tahr was launched by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 2023 for the conservation of the species.
The Western Ghats is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's eight 'hottest hotspots' of biodiversity.