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The Nilgiri tahr is a sturdy, stocky ungulate endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and the Western Ghats of southern India, and the state animal of Tamil Nadu. Adapted to steep, rocky terrain, it moves with remarkable agility across sheer cliff faces. Critically endangered with a population of fewer than 3,000, it is protected almost entirely within Eravikulam National Park.
Average Length
1.5 m
Average Weight
100 kg
Lifespan
9 years
Top Speed
40 km/h
Quick Facts
Nilgiri tahr is endemic to the Western Ghats and found nowhere else in the world.
Eravikulam National Park in Kerala holds the world's largest population of this species.
Older males develop a silver saddle patch on their backs, earning them the name 'saddleback'.
The species was named after the Nilgiri Hills where it was first scientifically described.
Habitat & Range
Habitats
Regions
Behavior & Reproduction
Activity Pattern
Diurnal
Social Structure
Small mixed herds
Gestation Period
6 months
Litter Size
1
Predators
Leopards, Dholes, Tigers
