Tamil Nadu to Establish Nilgiri Tahr Conservation Centre in Coimbatore

The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. K. Stalin, laid the foundation stone on March 4 for the Nilgiri Tahr Conservation Centre in Coimbatore through an online ceremony from Chennai. The centre will function as a hub for research, monitoring and documentation of the population of the Nilgiri tahr in the state.

The initiative aims to enable evidence-based conservation planning and ensure long-term ecological stewardship for the species.

Part of Project Nilgiri Tahr
The proposed centre is a key component of Project Nilgiri Tahr, launched in 2023 for the conservation of Tamil Nadu’s State animal, the Nilgiri tahr.

The facility will be developed on 50 cents of land on Dr. Nanjappa Road in Coimbatore, located between Semmozhi Poonga and Periyar Arivulagam. The centre is also intended to create public awareness about the species and act as a bridge between conservation efforts and the public.

Third Synchronized Survey in April
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has announced that the third synchronized survey of the Nilgiri tahr will be conducted from April 24 to 27.

For the first time, the department has developed a mobile application named “Varudai” to assist in the population assessment. The term “Varudai” refers to the Nilgiri tahr in Sangam-era literary works. It is also the first mobile application developed by the department for the survey of any mammalian species in the state.

About the Nilgiri Tahr
The Nilgiri tahr is the only mountain ungulate in southern India among the 12 ungulate species found in the country. It is also the state animal of Tamil Nadu.

Historically, the species inhabited the entire stretch of the Western Ghats, but today it survives only in small, fragmented pockets due to habitat loss and human pressures.

Cultural Significance in Tamil Literature
In ancient Sangam literature, the Nilgiri tahr—referred to as “varayādu” or mountain goat—is celebrated as a symbol of endurance and longing in the Kurinji (mountain) landscape.

Sangam poems describe wild goats leaping across rocky slopes in the blue hills, while later epics such as Silappathikaram also mention the spirited mountain goats of the highlands.

Importance for Indigenous Communities
The animal also holds cultural significance for the Muthuvan tribe, which inhabits the hill regions along the Kerala–Tamil Nadu border. For these communities, the Nilgiri tahr forms an important part of the ecological and cultural landscape of the Western Ghats.

Sources: TH & WWF