The Hindu : Kerala News : 42 tahr kids born at Eravikulam park

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42 tahr kids born at Eravikulam park

With the kidding season of Nilgiri tahrs on at the Eravikulam National Park, the births of 42 tahr kids have been reported until now.

Last year, 54 kids were born at the park, home to this endangered species, during the kidding season.

So, is the tahr population in the park likely to go up considerably on account of the new births? Roy P. Thomas, Wildlife Warden of the park, says one should not read too much into the figures. It will not be advisable to add the number of the newborns to the existing number of these mountain goats. There are predators in the park – wild dogs, leopards and tigers. The tahrs are the natural prey of these predators, Mr. Thomas says. The park has a sustainable population and nature has its own ways of maintaining a balance among various species.

V.S. Varghese, Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), has intimated that the park will be opened to visitors from April 1, Mr. Thomas says.

The six buses owned by the Eco Development Committees under the Anamudi Forest Development Agency will be ready to take the visitors to the park. The 2006 tourist season saw visitors flock to the park in large numbers following the blooming of the Neelakurunji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) after 12 years.

K.S. Sudhi

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