Nilgiri Tahr population in State increases to 1,364, finds survey

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The population of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, Tamil Nadu’s State animal, has risen to an estimated 1,364, according to the third synchronised population survey, conducted jointly by the Tamil Nadu and Kerala Forest Departments.

The estimate represents a 4.68% increase from the 1,303 animals recorded in 2025 and a 32% increase from the 1,031 estimated during the first synchronised survey in 2024.

The findings were released on Friday by Minister for Forests R.V. Ranjith Kumar and Environment Minister V.K. Rajeev. Along with the Nilgiri Tahr report, they also released the State-level Synchronised Wetland Birds Survey 2026, State-level Synchronised Terrestrial Birds Survey 2026, and the Tamil Nadu State-wide Raptor Assessment Report.

The survey was carried out under Project Nilgiri Tahr, a flagship conservation initiative to secure the future of the endemic mountain ungulate found only in the Western Ghats. It was conducted from April 24 to 27 across 177 survey blocks spanning all 14 forest divisions in Tamil Nadu. It covered 43 forest ranges and 124 forest beats across the Western Ghats.

The exercise involved 858 personnel, including forest officers, frontline staff, scientists, researchers and veterinary doctors, who collectively trekked 3,219 km through rugged mountain terrain.

For the first time, the Forest Department used the Android-based “Varudai” mobile application, enabling real-time transfer of field observations. The survey was conducted in coordination with institutions including the Kerala Forest Department, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)-India, Wildlife Institute of India, World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-India, TANUVAS University, Wildlife Trust of India and the Arignar Anna Zoological Park’s Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation.

According to the report, 673 Nilgiri Tahrs were estimated in the two largest contiguous habitats — 360 in Grass Hills National Park in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve and 313 in Mukurthi National Park in the Nilgiris.