Few animals are as closely woven into the landscape of the Western Ghats as the Nilgiri tahr. Built for cliffs and grasslands, the sure-footed ungulate has long ruled the high ranges of southern India, shaping both ecosystems and human imagination. Now, after decades of decline, new survey data suggests the species may be slowly emerging from the shadows. Yet conservationists warn that its survival is far from assured.
The Nilgiri tahr, found nowhere else in the world, once roamed freely across the shola forests and rolling montane grasslands of the Western Ghats. Its compact, muscular body, curved horns and remarkable balance make it uniquely adapted to steep escarpments and high-altitude meadows. Adult males, known as saddlebacks for the pale patch along their spine, are a striking sight at dawn as they step out from behind grass tussocks on windswept slopes such as those near the Rajamala hills.
For centuries, the tahr has occupied a special place in the cultural memory of the region. Ancient Tamil Sangam literature refers to the animal as varayãdu, the mountain goat, celebrating it as a symbol of endurance and longing in the Kurinji landscape. Poems describe wild goats leaping effortlessly across rocky slopes in the misty blue hills, while classical epics like Silappathikaram speak of spirited animals inhabiting the high country.
Among the Toda, Badaga and Kota tribal communities, folktales recount shepherds following tahr trails to escape sudden storms or navigate treacherous terrain. The Muthuvan tribe, living along the Kerala–Tamil Nadu border, considers the animal a guide of sorts. Elders say that tracking tahr footprints in dense fog often leads to hidden springs or safe mountain passes.
Despite this deep connection, the species suffered a steady decline through much of the 20th century. Expanding agriculture, tourism infrastructure and plantations fragmented grassland habitats, while invasive species such as wattle and eucalyptus choked native vegetation. Climate change added further pressure, forcing tahrs to retreat to higher elevations. Isolated populations became increasingly vulnerable to disease and genetic bottlenecks.
Against this backdrop, the findings of a 2025 population survey have brought cautious optimism. Conducted jointly by the forest departments of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the survey estimates the total Nilgiri tahr population at around 2,668 individuals. Kerala accounts for approximately 1,365 tahrs, with the largest and most secure group about 841 animals found within Eravikulam National Park near Munnar. Tamil Nadu hosts an estimated 1,303 individuals across its high-altitude ranges.
Forest officials attribute this recovery to sustained conservation efforts over the past decade. In 2023, Tamil Nadu declared the Nilgiri tahr its state animal and launched Project Tahr with an allocation of ₹25.14 crore. The project recognises the species not only as a cultural icon but also as a keystone of the mountain ecosystem. According to the Tamil Nadu forest department, wild ungulates like the tahr help maintain ecosystem structure and influence predator populations. As a generalist feeder, the tahr consumes more than 120 species of grasses, herbs, shrubs and legumes, aiding nutrient recycling and soil fertility in fragile montane landscapes.
Under Project Tahr, forest authorities are restoring native grasslands by removing invasive plants and reintroducing traditional grass species such as Chrysopogon zeylanicus and Tripogon wightii. Officials are also working closely with Muthuvan communities to better understand migration routes, feeding grounds and seasonal movements. Similar initiatives are underway in Kerala, particularly in Eravikulam National Park and Silent Valley National Park in Palakkad district, another stronghold of the species.
Both states are now looking beyond protection towards long-term landscape restoration. The 2025 survey has prompted discussions on translocating some animals to suitable but under-occupied habitats. This involves identifying ecologically stable release sites, improving forage availability and using soft-release methods to reduce stress on relocated animals. Wildlife corridors are also being mapped to reconnect fragmented shola grassland patches in regions such as Mukurthi, Anamalai, Glenmorgan and Eravikulam.
Conservationists, however, urge caution. Translocation can fail if habitats are not adequately restored or if climate pressures continue to intensify. Still, many see the current approach as a significant shift from merely guarding isolated populations to rebuilding a connected, resilient mountain ecosystem.
The Nilgiri tahr’s return offers hope, but it is a fragile one. As climate change accelerates and development pressures persist in the Western Ghats, the mountain monarch’s survival will depend on how well conservation efforts balance ecological restoration with human use of the high ranges. For now, the animal that once inspired poetry and guided hill communities continues its quiet climb back into view.