The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Steep drop in Nilgiri tahr population

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Friday, Feb 04, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Steep drop in Nilgiri tahr population

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, FEB. 3. The population of Nilgiri tahr in the forests of the State has suffered a steep drop while the numbers of other wildlife species have increased, the Forest Minister, K. P. Viswanathan, informed the Assembly today.

Replying to questions, he said that while there were 1,008 tahr in the State as per the 1997 wildlife census, the number dropped to 600 in the last census in 2002. However, there was a substantial increase in the numbers of other animals, including elephants.

The following is the break-up, with the 1997 figure in brackets: elephant - 6,939 (5,737); bison - 14,787 (4,151); spotted deer - 38,391 (14,892); sambhar deer - 30,414 (3,661); nilgiri langur - 51,517 (24,809); wild boar - 60,940 (48,425); tiger - 77 (73); mountain squirrel - 88,919 (63,474); and lion-tailed macaque - 1,320 (300).

The Minister said the total area of forests in the State in 2003-'04 was 11264.52 sq km as against 11152.08 sq km in 2000-`01. A total of 7,289.34 hectares of forest land remained in the hands of encroachers since January 1, 1977. The Government was yet to receive Rs.58 crores towards lease on forest land.

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