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Source-This post on Nilgiri Tahr census is based on the article “IUCN representative to be an observer in Nilgiri Tahr survey” published in “The Hindu” on 25th March 2024.
Why in the News?
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) will be joining the three-day synchronised Nilgiri Tahr census as a third-party observer.
About the Nilgiri Tahr census
1. About the census: This census is first ever synchronised census of Nilgiri tahr. It will commence on 29th April 24.
2. Purpose of conducting survey: The census aims to estimate the population of Nilgiri tahr.
3.Participatory organisation:The forest department has collaborated with Worldwide Fund for Nature – India (WWF-India), Wildlife Institute of India (WII), and Advanced Institute of Wildlife Sciences (AIWC). International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) will be third-party observer.
4. Protected area involved in the census: The Eravikulam National Park which shares a continuous boundary with Grass Hills in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve will be part of the census.
About Project Nilgiri Tahr
1. About Project Nilgiri Tahr: It is an initiative launched by the Tamil Nadu government.It is a five-year program, spanning from 2022 to 2027.
2. Objective: The primary goal of Project Nilgiri Tahr is to safeguard the Nilgiri Tahr population and ensure its survival.
3. Components of the project: Project Nilgiri Tahr has nine components including biennial synchronised survey across divisions, reintroduction of Nilgiri Tahr in the historic habitats, idntifying disease and diagnosis of lump affected individuals, radio collaring of Nilgiri Tahr, ecotourism etc.
About Nilgiri Tahr
1. Nilgiri Tahr, also known as Nilgiri Ibex, are stocky goats with short, coarse fur, bristly mane and curved horns.
2. Habitat: These species predominantly inhabit open montane grasslands.
The tahr primarily resides in limited habitat areas within Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Specifically in a narrow stretch of the Western Ghats extending from the Nilgiri hills in the north to the Asambu hills in the south.
3. Population status: There are 3,122 Nilgiri Tahr in the wild in Tamil Nadu and neighboring landscapes of Kerala. (Last assessment done in 2015 by WWF-India)
4. Conservation Status: The species is categorized as Endangered in the IUCN Red List and is also included under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
UPSC Syllabus: Environment
