he first Nilgiri Tahr project in India, which would cost Rs 25.14 crore, will be undertaken to protect Tamil Nadu’s state animal. On Wednesday, the state administration issued an order approving the project.

According to Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary for Environment, Climate Change, and Forest Department tweeted: “As India’s first “Project Nilgiri Tahr” takes shape, today is a historic day for us at TN Forest. Government orders issued for conservation of the most beautiful and enigmatic Nilgiri Tahr, the state animal of TN at a cost of Rs 25.14 Cr.”

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Sharing details of the project in a statement, Sahu said, “Project Nilgiri Tahr of Tamil Nadu Forest seeks to rehabilitate the habitat that has been fragmented, particularly the Shola grasslands where it thrives, reintroduce the Tahr population in its historical habitat, and make sure that adequate rehabilitation facilities are offered.”

The Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden issued a proposal to undertake the project over a five-year period, from 2022 to 2027, based on the Budget release. According to the reports, the project would consist of nine parts, including a pilot programme for restoring Shola grassland in Upper Bhavani and bi-annual synchronised surveys across the division.

The government has developed the project for the Western Ghats’ Nilgiri tahr, on the lines of elephant and tiger conservation programmes, since the animal is an endangered species. Despite being listed under Schedule I, most are unaware of its significance. The species is endangered according to a report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Previously, the animal could be found not just in isolated places but over the whole length of the Western Ghats. From its historical range, a sizable portion of its population has been wiped off. Out of the 12 species of ungulates found in India, the Nilgiri Tahr is the only one found in Southern India. In the wild, it is thought to have a population of 3,122, according to a 2015 study by WWF India.

According to material on the WWF-India website, habitat degradation and hunting have put the current populations under a great deal of stress.