TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
THE CONTEXT: The recently concluded survey, conducted as part of Project Nilgiri Tahr, focused on understanding the population dynamics, distribution patterns, and behavioral aspects of the Nilgiri Tahr. This endeavor is pivotal for formulating effective conservation strategies.
EXPLANATION:
- Additionally, the project aims to conduct bi-annual synchronised surveys to estimate population numbers, deploy radio collars for tracking movement patterns, and reintroduce the species to its historical habitats.
Project Nilgiri Tahr:
- The Tamil Nadu government launched an initiative, “Project Nilgiri Tahr,” aimed at conserving the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, the state’s emblematic animal.
- This five-year project, inaugurated in 2022, has gained momentum with the completion of a comprehensive survey designed to assess the population, behavior, and habitat of the Nilgiri Tahr.
- Project Nilgiri Tahr is a collaborative endeavor involving various institutions, including the Wildlife Institute of India, the World Wide Fund, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
- With a budget allocation of Rs 25.14 crore, this initiative underscores the government’s commitment to wildlife conservation and habitat restoration.
- Unlike previous conservation projects, Project Nilgiri Tahr encompasses multiple objectives beyond species conservation. It seeks to revive the habitat and ecosystem vital for the Nilgiri Tahr’s survival. This holistic approach, spearheaded by scientist Paul Peter Predit of the WWF, underscores the project’s broader ecological significance.
Timeliness and Urgency
- The timing of Project Nilgiri Tahr is strategic, considering the Nilgiri Tahr’s endangered status as classified by the IUCN.
- Proactive measures are imperative to prevent further population decline and ensure the species’ long-term survival.
- There has been emphasizes on the importance of initiating conservation efforts before the species becomes critically endangered.
Implementation Structure and Geographic Focus
- Project Nilgiri Tahr is overseen by a dedicated administrative team, led by Project Director.
- The team, comprising seven members and stationed across four tiger reserves in Tamil Nadu, coordinates on-the-ground activities.
- These reserves include Anamalai, Srivilliputhur Meghamalai, Mudumalai, and Kalakad Mundanthurai.
- Such a decentralized structure facilitates effective monitoring and management of conservation efforts.
Reintroduction Strategy and Habitat Restoration
- Central to Project Nilgiri Tahr is the reintroduction of the species to its traditional habitat, addressing habitat loss and fragmentation.
- Potential habitats are meticulously identified, and suitability assessments are conducted to ensure the selected locations can sustain viable populations.
- Grassland restoration initiatives, vital for mitigating human-animal conflicts, are integral components of habitat restoration efforts.
Ecotourism and Community Engagement
- The project envisages ecotourism initiatives around Nilgiri Tahr habitats, fostering sustainable tourism practices while safeguarding the species’ natural habitat.
- Identified locations for ecotourism include Coimbatore, Nilgiris, and Meghamalai.
- Community outreach programs, including symposiums and workshops involving indigenous communities, aim to foster local stewardship and conservation awareness.
Challenges and Mitigation Strategies
- Despite its noble objectives, Project Nilgiri Tahr faces challenges, including the vast landscape coverage and the species’ preference for cliff habitats.
- Additionally, threats such as forest fires pose significant risks to the Nilgiri Tahr’s survival.
- The project team is committed to overcoming these challenges through rigorous monitoring, adaptive management strategies, and community engagement initiatives.
Nilgiri Tahr
- The Nilgiri Tahr, scientifically known as Nilgiritragus hylocrius, is native to the Anamalai and Nilgiris landscape in Tamil Nadu.
- Once abundant in the region, the species has dwindled in numbers due to habitat loss, poaching, and other human-induced factors.
- The Nilgiri Tahr is the only mountain ungulate in southern India amongst the 12 species present in India.
- It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu.
- The Nilgiri Tahr, which used to be found along the entire stretch of Western Ghats, is presently found only in small fragmented pockets.
- The Eravikulam National Park has the highest density and largest surviving population of Nilgiri tahr.
- October 7 is celebrated as ‘Niligiri Tahr Day’ in honour of E.R.C. Davidar, who was responsible for pioneering one of the first studies of the species in 1975.
- It is protected under Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and Endangered as per the IUCN Red List.
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN):
- The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
- Founded in 1948, IUCN has become the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.
- IUCN’s mission is to “influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.”
- It is involved in data gathering and analysis, research, field projects, advocacy, and education.
- IUCN has a membership of over 1,400 governmental and non-governmental organizations from over 170 countries, and around 16,000 scientists and experts participate in its work on a voluntary basis.
- Its headquarters is in Gland, Switzerland.