Breeding season of Nilgiri Tahr at Eravikulam National Park in Munnar

After the Kurinji season, which comes once in 12 years, it is calving season of Nilgiri Tahr at the Eravikulam National Park, which has made headlines in Munnar.
 

At least two-dozen of Nilgiri Tahr or Nilgiri ibex (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) are pregnant and some have already given birth. This season is important for the conservation of the ibex, which is in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Mammals. The Park is closed to visitors from February 1 to protect the calves and it will extend until the calving season is over.

The officials have taken great care in breeding the endangered animal but still the number of Tahr in the Park has decreased to about 700 last year, from more than 1000 a decade ago. The numbers is likely to go up if the newborns survive in large numbers.

The Nilgri Tahr is thought to be primitive cousins of goats. They inhabit the mountains of Munnar and at places like Ponmudi, Silent Valley and Parambikulam in Kerala and Anamalais and Palanis in Tamil Nadu.
 

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