Home / Environment / Nilgiri Tahr Population Surges in Western Ghats
Nilgiri Tahr Population Surges in Western Ghats
6 Jun
Summary
- Nilgiri Tahr population increased by 4.68% to 1,364 individuals.
- Pollachi Forest Division has the highest Tahr population.
- Anamalai Hills hold nearly 45% of Tamil Nadu's Tahr.
The Nilgiri Tahr, an endangered species endemic to the Southern Western Ghats, has experienced a notable population increase. The third synchronized estimation, conducted in April 2026, revealed an estimated 1,364 individuals, marking a 4.68% growth since the previous year.
This positive trend is further underscored by earlier counts of 1,303 in 2025 and 1,031 in 2024. Among the forest divisions surveyed, Pollachi Forest Division reported the highest population with 438 individuals, followed by Udhagai Division with 313. The Anamalai Hills alone accounts for 44.87% of the total Nilgiri Tahr population in Tamil Nadu, while the Nilgiris landscape holds 29.25%.
The estimation exercise, part of Project Nilgiri Tahr, covered 14 forest divisions from April 24-27, 2026. Age and sex data indicated that adult females comprised 38.4% of the population and adult males 34.6%, with a male-to-female ratio of 55:100. The Nilgiri Tahr, a vital part of the high-altitude ecosystem, continues to be found in scattered populations across Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
