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The Conservation of the Nilgiri tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius), an Endangered Mountain Goat Endemic to Western Ghats

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Indian Hotspots

Abstract

The Nilgiri tahr, Nilgiritragus hylocrius, is an endangered mountain goat endemic to Western Ghats. It is a social animal with strong preference for high altitude grassland shola habitat. Literature on the status, distribution, ecology and behaviour were referred. Personal discussions were held with researchers and officials of tahr areas and field visits were made to most of the tahr habitats. A workshop was organized with active involvement of all the concerned for information on distribution and conservation status of tahr and identifying priority areas for conservation. The tahr population exists in several metapopulations. These data were compiled in geographic information system databases (Arcview–GIS) and distribution mapped. Based on the geographical continuity, three landcsapes are identified and Tahr Conservation Units demarcated. Conservation challenges are identified, discussed and suggestions made for conservation of Nilgiri tahr.

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Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to the officials of Tamil Nadu and Kerala Forest Department for their support during the field visits and input. Thanks to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for the financial support through Tamil Nadu. The special interest taken by Shri Sunder Raj IFS, the then Chief Wildlife Warden of Tamil Nadu; Shri S. A. Raju, the then Wildlife Warden, Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary; Shri T. M. Manoharan, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests; Dr. K. P. Ouseph, Chief Conservator of Forests (WL); Shri E. R. C. Davidar; Dr. Clifford G. Rice; Shri P. Pramod IFS; Shri James Zacharias; and Dr. Ranjith Daniels are remembered with gratitude. Dr. M. Balasubramanian, Conservation Biologist, Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation, Kerala, prepared all the maps and provided useful inputs to the whole process.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Care Earth Trust, No. 3, Sixth Street, Thillaiganga Nagar, Chennai, 600061, India

    P. S. Easa

  2. Asia Biodiversity Conservation Trust, 14/453 Alembath, MLA Road, Nadakavu P.O., Cochin, 682307, Kerala, India

    Mohan Alembath

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  1. P. S. Easa
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Andaman & Nicobar Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India

    Chandrakasan Sivaperuman

  2. National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Anna University Campus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

    Krishnamoorthy Venkataraman

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Easa, P.S., Alembath, M. (2018). The Conservation of the Nilgiri tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius), an Endangered Mountain Goat Endemic to Western Ghats. In: Sivaperuman, C., Venkataraman, K. (eds) Indian Hotspots. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6983-3_13

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