{"id":364704,"date":"2026-06-08T17:02:54","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T11:32:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/?p=364704"},"modified":"2026-06-08T17:02:54","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T11:32:54","slug":"nilgiri-thar-and-varudai-app","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/nilgiri-thar-and-varudai-app\/","title":{"rendered":"Nilgiri Thar and ‘Varudai’ App"},"content":{"rendered":"
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News<\/strong>: Tamil Nadu Forest Department developed the Varudai mobile application for the synchronized Nilgiri Tahr survey conducted from April 24 to 27.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

About Nilgiri Tahr<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Nilgiri
Source – TN Government<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
About\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • It is a mountain ungulate endemic to the southern part of the Western Ghats. <\/strong><\/li>\n
  • It is also known as the Nilgiri Ibex or Varayaadu. <\/strong><\/li>\n
  • It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scientific Name<\/strong><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • It\u2019s scientific name is Nilgiritragus hylocrius.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Habitat<\/strong><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • The species inhabits open montane grasslands and shola forests<\/strong> at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 2,600 m.<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • It thrives on grassy slopes and rocky cliffs in the Western Ghats.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Distribution<\/strong><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • It is distributed across a roughly 400 km stretch of the Western Ghats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Eravikulam National Park in Kerala supports the highest density<\/strong> and the largest surviving population of the species.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Physical Characteristics<\/strong><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • The Nilgiri Tahr is a stocky goat with short, coarse fur and a bristly mane. <\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Males <\/strong>are larger and darker t<\/strong>han females, and both sexes <\/strong>possess curved horn<\/strong>s that are larger in males.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ecological Significance<\/strong><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • The Nilgiri Tahr serves as an important prey species for tigers and leopards.<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • It is also an indicator of montane grassland health<\/strong> and coexists with endemic species such as the Nilgiri langur and lion-tailed macaque.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Threats<\/strong><\/td>\n\n
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  • The species faces threats from habitat loss caused by deforestation, hydroelectric projects, and monoculture plantations.<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Livestock competition, poaching, and forest fires also affect its survival.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Conservation Status<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		\n