| Nilgiri tahr | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Male (left) | |
_female.jpg) | |
| Female inEravikulam National Park | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Bovidae |
| Subfamily: | Caprinae |
| Tribe: | Caprini |
| Genus: | Nilgiritragus Ropiquet &Hassanin, 2005 |
| Species: | N. hylocrius |
| Binomial name | |
| Nilgiritragus hylocrius (Ogilby, 1838) | |
 | |
| Distribution of Nilgiri tahr | |
| Synonyms | |
Hemitragus hylocrius | |
TheNilgiri tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) is anungulate that isendemic to theNilgiri Hills and the southern portion of theWestern andEastern Ghats in the states ofTamil Nadu andKerala in southernIndia. It is theonly species in the genusNilgiritragus and is closely related to the sheep of the genusOvis.
It is the state animal ofTamil Nadu.[2]
The genus nameNilgiritragus is derived from theSanskrit words Nila(blue) and Giri(mountains) meaning "blue hills" and theGreek wordtrágos meaning "goat".[3]
The Nilgiri tahr was described asCapra warryato byJohn Edward Gray.[4] It was formerly placed in the genusHemitragus together with theHimalayan tahr (H. jemlahicus) and theArabian tahr (Arabitragus jayakari). A 2005phylogenetic analysis showed that the Himalayan and Arabian tahr are sisters of the genusCapra while the Nilgiri tahr is asister of the genusOvis, and it was therefore separated into themonotypic genusNilgiritragus in 2005.[5]Thegenetic divergence from the common ancestor ofOvis andNilgiritragus is estimated at about2.7 to 5.2 million years ago, and between the northern population in theNilgiri Mountains and the southern one in theAnaimalai Hills of the Palghat Gap about1.5 million years ago.[6]
_juvenile.jpg)
_female_head.jpg)
The Nilgiri tahr is a stocky goat with short, coarse fur and a bristly mane. Males are larger than females and of darker colour when mature. Both sexes have curved horns, reaching up to 40 cm (16 in) for males and 30 cm (12 in) for females. Adult males weigh 80 to 100 kg (180 to 220 lb) and stand about 100 cm (39 in) tall at the shoulder. Adult males develop a light grey area on their backs, thus are called "saddlebacks".[2]
The Nilgiri tahr can be found only in India. It inhabits the openmontane grassland habitat of theSouth Western Ghats montane rain forests ecoregion. At elevations from 1,200 to 2,600 m (3,900 to 8,500 ft), the forests open into large grasslands interspersed with pockets of stunted forests, locally known assholas. These grassland habitats are surrounded by dense forests at the lower elevations. The Nilgiri tahrs formerly ranged over these grasslands in large herds, but hunting and poaching in the 19th century reduced their population.[1]
The Nilgiri tahr is primarily threatened byhabitat loss and disturbance caused by invasive species, and in some sites by livestock grazing,poaching and fragmentation of the landscape.[1]
As few as 100 Nilgiri tahrs were left in the wild by the end of 20th century. Since that time, their numbers have increased somewhat; in a comprehensive study of the Nilgiri tahr population inWestern Ghats, the WWF-India has put the population at 3,122.[7] Their range extends over 400 km (250 mi) from north to south, andEravikulam National Park is home to the largest population.[8]
In April 2025, the Second Synchronized Nilgiri Tahr Survey conducted jointly by the Tamil Nadu and Kerala Forest Departments under Project Nilgiri Tahr recorded a total of 2,655 individuals—1,303 in Tamil Nadu and 1,352 in Kerala.[9][10] The survey was carried out across 14 forest divisions and 177 blocks, including 36 newly identified habitats. It involved 786 trained personnel and incorporateddrone-basedreconnaissance,GIS mapping, and standardized methods such as the double observer and bounded count techniques to ensure accuracy and consistency.[9]
The 2025 survey found asex ratio of approximately 49 males per 100 females, and a young-to-female ratio of 50 to 100, both indicating a healthy reproductive population.[9]
Project Nilgiri Tahr, launched by the Government of Tamil Nadu in October 2023, has emerged as one of India's most ambitious species-specific conservation programs. It includes shola grassland restoration, radio-collaring, health monitoring, and plans forcaptive breeding and reintroduction.[14][9]
October 7 has been declared Nilgiri Tahr Day in Tamil Nadu, commemorating the legacy of conservationistE.R.C. Davidar and reinforcing the cultural significance of the species.[15][14]
| Period / Event | Estimated Population |
|---|---|
| Late 20th century low | Fewer than 100 |
| WWF‑India estimate (early 2000s) | ~3,122 |
| April 2025 synchronized survey | 2,655 (Tamil Nadu + Kerala) |
