CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU – October 5, 2025 – The Tamil Nadu government has formally launched a new conservation initiative, sanctioning 1 Crore to protect four lesser known endangered species marking a significant strategic shift from its traditional focus on flagship animals like tigers and elephants. The scheme, announced earlier this year, aims to safeguard species that play crucial ecological roles but have historically been overlooked in conservation efforts.
Tamil Nadu is recognized globally as a biodiversity hotspot, encompassing unique ecosystems across the Western and Eastern Ghats. However, numerous species face severe threats from habitat loss, poaching, road mortality, and pollution.
The four species targeted under the new program are:
• Lion-tailed Macaque: An endangered primate endemic to the Western Ghats, surviving in fragmented rainforest patches.
• Madras Hedgehog: A largely understudied and unprotected nocturnal species found in semi-arid regions.
• Striped Hyena: A natural scavenger whose declining numbers, particularly in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve landscape, pose a threat to disease regulation.
• Hump-headed Mahseer: A highly endangered fish species in the Moyar River system, pushed to the brink by dams, destructive fishing, and invasive species.
Targeted Funding and Interventions
The 1 Crore in sanctioned funds has been strategically allocated:
- Lion-tailed Macaque: 48.5 lakh
- Madras Hedgehog: 20.5 lakh
- Striped Hyena: 14 lakh
- Hump-headed Mahseer: 17 lakh
The program outlines specific interventions tailored to each species needs. For the lion-tailed macaque efforts will include building canopy bridges to ensure safe movement between fragmented forest patches. For the hump-headed mahseer, the plan focuses on in-situ breeding and release programs to revive populations. Across all species, the initiative will support habitat monitoring, long-term population studies, and community awareness and education programs.
Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary of the Environment, Forests, and Climate Change Department, stated that the initiative will be crucial in generating baseline data, mitigating human-wildlife conflict, and enhancing the region’s overall ecological resilience. This move aligns with Tamil Nadu’s recent conservation milestones such as the establishment of the Dugong Conservation Reserve and Project Nilgiri Tahr, supporting the global 30 \times 30 biodiversity goals.