Kerala - Kochi   

Mountain ungulates meet in Munnar

Wildlife conservationists and enthusiasts, especially Caprinae biologists, around the world are turning their attention now to Kerala. Munnar, Eravikulam National Park and the Nilgiri tahrs are now increasingly discussed in the wildlife conservation circuit.

Munnar is all set to host the fourth world conference on mountain ungulates in September.

What makes the conference so special is the fact that it is for the first time that Asia is becoming the venue of such a conference.

"The meeting is expected to examine the recent developments in research and conservation of mountain ungulates worldwide. It is the first time in the history of Caprinae Specialist Group that a conference is being held in Asia," said Mohan Alambath, special member of the Caprinae group of IUCN.

"Nearly 50 per cent of the world population of tahrs is in Eravikulam and the species is facing a series of threats, including habitat destruction, poaching and transmission of diseases from domesticated livestock," said M.K. Prasad, one of the organisers of the conference.

The conference is expected to increase the awareness on mountain grassland ecosystem of Eravikulam and the need to protect it, Prof. Prasad said.

The first world conference on mountain ungulates was held in Camerino, Italy, in 1989 followed by the second conference at St. Vincent, Italy, in 1997. The third world conference was held in Saragossa, Spain, in 2002, where the status of Caprinae and their habitats were discussed in detail, said Mr. Alambath.

That meeting launched the writing of the IUCN action plan for Caprinae and surveyed the global status of all species in the family Caprinae. It also provided guidelines for the conservation of mountain ungulates, he said.

Though the news from the park is encouraging as far as the population of this endangered species is considered, wildlife conservationists feel that much needs to be done to protect the species. The latest news from th e park is that the Tahr population has gone up to 704 with the addition of 36 calves that were born during this calving season.

The High Range Wildlife and Environment Preservation Association is the host of the conference. The association has been active in the conservation of the species for the last eight decades. As mountain ungulate experts from different parts of the world will converge at Munnar for the conference, the managers of various parks in India would get opportunities to interact with them.

K.S. Sudhi

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