Minister of Forest RS Rajakannapppan and other main secretary, Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Forest Change, Supriya Sahu, during the release of the survey. | Photo Credit: Raghunathan SR
Tamil Nadu recorded an estimated 1,303 Nilgiri Tahrs in the second year of a synchronized survey of the population conducted in April 2025, carried out in cooperation with the Keral forest department.
The survey report was published on Tuesday by the Minister of RS Rajakannappan, along with Supriya Sahu, another main secretary of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Forest Changes, Srinivas R. Reddy, Director of Forest (Head of Forest Forces) and preservation (head head), representative (India), India), India), India), India), India) Conservatives (head of forest forces), India), conservatives (head of forest forces) (head of forest forces), end (head of forest forces) (head of forest forces), Krumar representative (head of forest forces), main conservator of forests), chief. Nature, in Guindy National Park.
At the same event, the Ministry of Forest Keral also published the corresponding report on the population of Nilgiri Tahr in his jurisdiction. The Minister for Forest and Wild Animals, Ak Sasendran and Pramod G. Kršhnan, another main main forest conservator and the main guard Wildlife in Kerala, joined the start to start at the start.
This year’s synchronized survey included 177 blocks in Tamil Nadu – 36 more than in 2024. A total of 3 126 kilometers were covered by 786 dedicated field employees. “The estimated population of Nilgiri Tahil Nadu has increased to 1,303, which is from 1,031 recorded in the previous year. This does not mean an increase in the population, but rather a higher level of observed meetings,” said MG Ganesan, project director of Nilgiri Tahr.
Of the total of 616 individuals – who make up almost half of the population to 47.3 percent – were found in large neighboring habitats in 14 blocks. Grass Hills National Park and Mukirthi National Park are primary forts.
The remaining 687 Tahr, which contained 53 percent of the population, was found in fragmented habitats distributed over 163 blocks, including areas intersected by roads and tea estates.
The survey also observed an estimated 155 Nilgiri Tahrs, which forms a transit population that moves towards the Kerala Eavicula National Park. In particular, this year’s survey included a detailed assessment of threats for the first time, which is ready to provide insight into the problems of preserving this species.
Mr. Bhatnagar said that the understanding of the ecology of movement is extremely important. “Ecology is not just about calculating domestic size for men, women or juveniles in the population. It includes understanding the real animals in the landscape – as used by different types of habitats, seasonal patterns in their movement and environmental features that affect their paths.
The survey was carried out with the support of IUCN, Tamil Nadu Over Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Indian Animal Council (AIWC) and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
Published – 5th August 2025 21:10
