Key Highlights
- Coordinated census will run from 24‑27 April 2025 across Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
- Celebrates 50 years of Eravikulam National Park, the stronghold of the Nilgiri Tahr.
- More than 1,300 field personnel will cover 265 blocks using camera traps, pellet analysis and bounded‑count techniques.
- Kerala contributes 89 blocks in 20 forest divisions; Tamil Nadu adds 176 blocks within known Tahr habitats.
Detailed Insights
The two states have synchronized their efforts to obtain a scientifically robust estimate of the Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius), a vulnerable ungulate endemic to the Western Ghats. The operation, scheduled for four days in late April 2025, aligns with the half‑century anniversary of Eravikulam National Park, which shelters the largest remaining Tahr population near Munnar.
Approximately 1,300 participants—including trained forest officers, wildlife volunteers, and research technicians—will deploy a suite of modern monitoring tools. Fixed camera traps will capture live images, while collected fecal pellets will be examined for genetic markers and dietary composition. The bounded‑count method, a distance‑sampling approach, will provide density estimates across each census block.
Pramod P.P., Field Director of the Periyar Tiger Reserve, will serve as the nodal officer for Kerala, ensuring logistical coherence between the two jurisdictions. The data generated will inform conservation strategies, assess habitat health, and guide future management interventions for this high‑altitude species.
Key Concepts
- Nilgiri Tahr: A mountain goat‑like herbivore native to the Western Ghats, classified as vulnerable due to habitat loss and fragmentation.
- Bounded Count Method: A population‑estimation technique that counts individuals within a defined area and extrapolates density using statistical models.
- Camera Trap: Motion‑activated photographic devices placed in the field to obtain non‑invasive visual records of wildlife.
- Pellet Sampling: Collection and laboratory analysis of animal feces to determine genetic identity, health status, and diet.
- Eravikulam National Park: A protected area in Kerala established in 1975, renowned for its extensive Nilgiri Tahr population and alpine meadow ecosystems.