Munnar: Conservationists from a dozen countries have lauded the conservation efforts for the Nilgiri tahr, but cautioned that its unique ecosystem needs to be nurtured by a series of measures on the ground.

They were delegates to the 4th World Congress on Mountain Ungulates (hoofed grazing animals), which concluded here on Friday.

Speaking to The Hindu , Marco Festa Bianchet, chairman of the specialist group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for caprinae (goat-antelopes, the broad family to which the tahr belongs), said, ``The conservation efforts of the Nilgiri tahr has been a success story — so far. However some things need to be done. — and this conference has enabled conservationists from around the world to pool their knowledge and experience.''

Visiting delegates agreed that the Nilgiri tahr conservation efforts owed much to the excellent synergy between the Kerala Forest Department and the High Range Wildlife and Environment Preservation Association, largely staffed by volunteers from Kanan Devan Hills Plantation Company (formerly Tata Tea), Munnar's biggest employer. Both of them worked closely with the tribal Muthuvan people of the region. The event saw the publication of the first detailed monograph on the Nilgiri tahr by R.J. Ranjit-Daniels, founder-director of Care Earth, Chennai (Macmillan, Rs. 360).

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