Nilgiri Tahr

About Nilgiri Tahr:

• It is an endangered mountain ungulate endemic to the southern part of the Western Ghats. 
• Scientific Name: Nilgiritragus hylocrius
• Locally, the animal is called ‘Varayaadu’.
• They are known for their gravity-defying skills in climbing steep cliffs, earning them the nickname Mountain Monarch.
• It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu.
• Distribution:
  • Their present distribution is limited to approximately 5% of the Western Ghats in southern India (Kerala and Tamil Nadu).
  • Eravikulam National Park in Kerala has the highest density and largest surviving population of Nilgiri tahr. 
• Habitat: They inhabit the open montane grassland habitats at elevations from 1200 to 2600 m of the South Western Ghats.
• Features:
  • It has a stocky body with short, coarse fur and a bristly mane. 
  • Males are larger than females and of a darker color when mature.
  • Both sexes have curved horns, which are larger in the males, reaching up to 40 cm in males and 30 cm in females. 
  • Adult males develop a light grey area or ’saddle’ on their backs and are hence called ‘saddlebacks’.
  • It has a short grey-brown or dark coat.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Endangered
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972: Schedule I