Latest news with #Nilgiritahr
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Controlled burning ensures food security for Nilgiri tahrs in Eravikulam
In a strategic move to protect both wildlife and local communities, Eravikulam National Park (ENP) — the natural habitat of the endangered Nilgiri tahr — has embraced the controlled burning of grasslands. As fresh grass carpets the hills, wild animals find ample food, and the once-rising cases of human-animal conflict in Munnar are now on the decline. ENP assistant wildlife warden Nithin Lal said that this year, the Forest department conducted controlled burning on nearly 750 hectares. 'The controlled burning process starts in December and is completed in January. After the summer rain, hills where controlled burning was carried out changes into green carpets,' said the official. 'Every three years, the grass in the grasslands of ENP will become unsuitable for grazing. Nilgiri tahr and other animals will not feed on such grass. At that point, controlled burning will be carried out to ensure food security,' said Mr. Lal. 'Newborn Nilgiri tahr calves are eating the newly-grown grass from the grasslands. Controlled burning also ensures food security for wild elephants, including other animals in the Munnar landscape,' said the official. Since three decades According to officials, the Forest department started the process in Eravikulam around 30 years ago, based on the know-how from the tribal communities. According to Forest department sources, after the new grass grew following controlled burning on the hills, the wild animals, including wild elephants begin camping on the grasslands, which also reflects the reduction of human-animal conflict cases in Munnar. The Forest department, in association with the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) and the Scheduled Tribe Development department, has launched an initiative called 'Gothrabheri' to use tribal knowledge to mitigate human-animal conflict incidents in the State and also highlighted the importance of controlled burning. 'Gothrabheri' State nodal officer Raju K. Francis said that tribal population across Kerala an immediate tool to mitigate human-animal conflict cases in forest border areas. 'Controlled burning should be conducted inside forests in an emergency manner,' said Mr. Francis.
The Hindu
05-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Traditional Nilgiri tahr habitats in Coimbatore Forest Division show signs of population revival
The traditional habitats of the enigmatic Nilgiri tahr in the Coimbatore Forest Division have shown signs of potential revival of their population as per the observations in the recently concluded synchronised census of the State animal. Five Nilgiri tahrs were sighted by enumerators at Periyattumalai in Madukkarai forest range limits during the estimation, after a gap of over a decade. Pellets of Nilgiri tahr were found in other traditional habitats, namely Kunjiramudi in Boluvampatti forest range and Kurudi Malai that is spread across Boluvampatti and Coimbatore ranges. For the study 'Status and Distribution of the Nilgiri Tahr in the Western Ghats' published in 2015, the WWF-India surveyed Chinnattumalai, Kunjiramudi, Vellingiri hills and Kurudi Malai in Coimbatore division. Tahr presence was observed in Chinnattumalai (two animals sighted) and Kunjra Mudi (pellets). 'The survey was conducted in 2010 and two individuals were sighted at Chinnattumalai. Though we went to the location a few more times, no direct sighting could be made as they moved to the Kerala side,' said Paul Peter Predit from WWF-India, who was part of the study. Chinnattumalai and Periyattumalai are contiguous forests and tahrs are believed to be moving between the two habitats, besides foraging in the Kerala side. 'The recent sighting at Periyattumalai is promising as tahr presence has been reconfirmed after the gap of over a decade. Frequent monitoring and use of technologies like drones will help in generating more details of their habitat and population trend,' added Mr. Predit. The tahr population in Coimbatore division is largely regarded as Siruvani hills population, which have more genetic similarities with the population that is found in the north of the Palakkad gap of the Western Ghats. M.G. Ganesan, Project Director of the government's Project Nilgiri Tahr, said that this year's survey was expected to generate more insights about the State animal as 'threats assessment' had been added as a new section. 'It will give us more inputs to understand the habitat landscapes of tahrs,' he said.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Nilgiri tahrs recover lost habitats in Tamil Nadu: Survey
Nilgiri tahr UDHAGAMANDALAM: Nilgiri tahrs have been sighted in Periyattumalai in Coimbatore division after a decade, according to the second synchronized survey of Nilgiri tahrs in Tamil Nadu which concluded on Sunday. Also, new colonization was confirmed in the Pasumalai block in Chinnamanur range in the Megamalai division, an indication of habitat recovery . Under the Project Nilgiri Tahr (launched in 2023), the four-day synchronized survey of Nilgiri tahr -- the state animal -- was conducted in 176 survey blocks of 14 forest divisions across the state. Herds were sighted with kids, according to a press release. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai The survey included the collection of tahr pellets for parasitic and carnivore's scat for understanding the parasitic species presence and its life cycle in association with Nilgiri tahr. Seven tahrs were sighted in the lowest elevation (240 m MSL) survey block in Peyanar Varaiyattu Mottai. This is one of the finest cliff and escarpment terrain blocks where tahr is using a dry thorny landscape. 'In the Mangaladevi survey block in Megamalai division, where the species was believed to have moved out, pellets of tahrs were recorded. Thus, the presence of the species is ascertained with evidence,' said M G Ganesan, project director, Project Nilgiri Tahr, who led the survey. The collected pellets and carnivore scat samples in ethanol vials are to be sent for laboratory analysis, especially parasitic analysis in the Wildlife Division at TANUVAS (Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University). Good population was sighted at Grass Hills National Park in Valparai and Mukurthi National Park in the Nilgiris. These two meta populations are vital for maintaining these fragile grasslands, said Supriya Sahu, additional chief secretary, department of environment, climate change and forest. She said, 'Pavetta oblanceolate, a critically endangered flora species, was recorded in Anamalai during the survey.' Ganesan said, 'After digitization, processing and interpretation of data will be done with research personnel and experts'. Experts from TANUVAS, project scientists and a team from WWF participated in the survey with 800 field staffers covering a 2,000km distance.
The Hindu
24-04-2025
- The Hindu
Munnar receives more tourist enquiries in the wake of Kashmir terrorist attack
With tourism in Kashmir facing a roadblock after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the hill station of Munnar is expecting an influx of tourists. According to tourism stakeholders, they are receiving enquiries from tour operators after the terror attack. According to Tourism department officials, the district is already witnessing good tourist inflow following the implementation of e-pass regulations by Tamil Nadu for entry to Ooty and Kodaikanal. District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) secretary Jitheesh Jose says 3.60 lakh tourists visited destinations under the DTPC in Idukki in April last year. 'This year, within 20 days, nearly 2,98,000 tourists visited the destinations. More tourists are reaching Munnar and Wagamon hill stations. We hope the trend will continue in May also,' says Mr. Jose. A tourism stakeholder says normally, tourists, including Malayalis, prefer Ooty, Kodaikanal, and Munnar. 'When travel restrictions came into effect in the two destinations in Tamil Nadu, tourists shifted their plans to Munnar resulting in the sudden surge of tourists. We hope the trend will continue until June,' he says. G. Sojan, coordinator of My Munnar Movement, an initiative to promote tourism prospects of Munnar, says many tourism stakeholders are receiving enquiries after the terror attack in Kashmir. 'We hope tourists, especially those from north India, will shift their travel plans to Munnar instead of Kashmir. The climate and topography of Munnar are almost the same as in Kashmir,' says Mr. Sojan. Eravikulam National Park (ENP), home to the endangered Nilgiri tahr, is one of the prominent attractions in Munnar. The bookings were full till Easter day. 'We hope that, after the Kashmir attack, many tourists will prefer Munnar and reach the park. The major attractions in the park are the Nilgiri tahr, virtual reality park of ENP, a fernarium, and an orchidarium,' says ENP Assistant Wildlife Warden Nithin Lal.
The Hindu
23-04-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Second synchronised estimation of Nilgiri tahr to cover 36 new blocks
The second annual synchronised estimation of Nilgiri tahr in Tamil Nadu and Kerala that begins on Thursday, April 24, will cover 36 new blocks in addition to the 140 blocks surveyed last year. The Tamil Nadu Forest Department is considering the second consecutive survey a significant exercise as it will generate vital data on the population trend of the State animal. The annual survey, which is one of the key components of the Project Nilgiri Tahr launched by Tamil Nadu in October 2023, will cover a total of 176 blocks in 14 forest divisions that are home to the mountain ungulate, in four days. According to Supriya Sahu, Secretary of Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department, this year's survey has expanded coverage, and the 36 new blocks include Kodaikanal division. The survey spans 2,000 km of terrain, covering an estimated 233 sq. km reaching Ashambu Mottai in Kanniyakumari and Thavalamalai in the northernmost area in the Nilgiris. 'This massive effort not only strengthens the conservation blueprint for the Nilgiri Tahr but also sets a national benchmark for wildlife conservation with modern science,' she posted on 'X' on Wednesday, after taking part in an orientation session held for Department staff in Coimbatore. The first survey held last year generated the baseline data on the endangered species, with an estimated population of 1,031 individuals in Tamil Nadu and 827 in Eravikulam National Park in Kerala. As the census is being done in the post-calving season, enumerators will be able to spot adult Nilgiri tahrs with the young ones. The enumerators will follow the bounded count method in fragmented areas and the double observer method in large continuous landscapes. They will also collect faecal samples of carnivores to assess parasitic loads in tahrs.
