The Hindu : Kerala News : Cheer for the Nilgiri tahr

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Saturday, Feb 05, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Cheer for the Nilgiri tahr

By K.S. Sudhi

— Photo: By Special Arrangement

A tahr mother and suckler at the Eravikulam National Park this week.

KOCHI, FEB. 4. The latest news from the Eravikulam National Park near Munnar in Kerala has brought cheer to wildlife enthusiasts. The drop in numbers that faced the Nilgiri tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius), the endangered mountain goat, may be slowing down: there have been at least 29 births since January. The population is expected to go up further for there are a few more pregnant tahrs around, said Roy P. Thomas, Wildlife Warden. (On Thursday, the Forest Minister, K.P. Viswanathan, had told the State Assembly that the number of individuals in the forests in the State had suffered a steep drop in recent years — from 1,008 in 1997 to 600 in 2002.) According to sources at the Park, the estimated tahr population here now is about 700. No population survey could be held last year owing to heavy rain. A census is planned this May.

The Eravikulam National Park has the largest population of Nilgiri tahr anywhere. The 97 sq km park, situated at an altitude of 1,400 to 2,695 metres along the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, was scheduled to remain closed to visitors till March 2 to ensure a safe calving environment for the tahr. But now the authorities are planning to extend the period for a few more weeks considering the presence of the pregnant animals.

This year the climatic conditions were favourable for the animal, with adequate rainfall. During this period last year the park was ravaged by a forest fire. Rainfall and effective steps undertaken by the authorities this year helped prevent the risk, Mr. Thomas said. Cutting of fire lines and early controlled burning of grass were done at the right time. Members of the Muduvan tribe carried out controlled burning.

The mating season of the tahr begins during the monsoon season and births occur in January-February. "The birth season if the animal corresponds to the final withdrawal of post-monsoon moisture, a time when days are sunny and mild and nights cold and clear," wrote Clifford G. Rice, an expert, in The Behaviour and Biology of Nilgiri Tahr. The mortality rate of tahr kids is usually between 10 and 20 per cent and the biggest threat to the mountain goat population is from its predators. Tigers, wild dogs, leopards and jackals are the main predators.

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