Now Reading: Kerala’s Varayattumudy hills become thriving Nilgiri tahr habitat
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Kerala’s Varayattumudy hills become thriving Nilgiri tahr habitat
The Nilgiri tahr population on Kerala's Varayattumudy hills in Idukki has surged to an estimated 150, up from just 50 in 2022, according to the Adimaly forest range office. Deputy Range Officer…
The Story in Brief
The Nilgiri tahr population on Kerala's Varayattumudy hills in Idukki has surged to an estimated 150, up from just 50 in 2022, according to the Adimaly forest range office. Deputy Range Officer Manoj T. Mathew said a recent census spotted nearly 100 individuals, and the total count has now touched 150, making Varayattumudy a crucial sanctuary alongside the well-known Eravikulam National Park.
Forest officials attribute the growth to an eco-restoration project that removed invasive exotic plants across 22.5 hectares, improving food availability. The 986-metre-high cliffs, grasslands, and windy climate mimic Eravikulam's conditions. The department plans to restore an additional 50 hectares and has formed a community forest committee in the neighbouring tribal settlement. A proposal for eco-tourism trekking at Mainappara has also been submitted.
The Indian Opinion
The story of Varayattumudy is rare good news for conservation, but don't let it obscure the bigger picture. One headline about rising tahr numbers in a restored patch cannot erase the relentless loss of shola grasslands across the Western Ghats. The real test is whether the Kerala forest department can replicate this eco-restoration model in the dozens of other degraded hill ranges where tahr populations still languish. Watch for the next state-wide census: it will reveal if this is an outlier or a turning point.
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
