The Tamil Nadu Government has allocated Rs.10 crore for 'Project Nilgiri Tahr', in order to save the State Animal, that is endangered and the head office for the implementation of the scheme will be set up in Coimbatore, stated the Principal Secretary of Forest Department.
Coimbatore: A Nilgiri Tahr security scheme will be implemented in the state, at an estimate of Rs.10 crore. The head office will be set up in Coimbatore.
The Tamil Nadu budget for FY 2022-23 was presented yesterday, the 18th of March. The State Government allocated an amount of Rs.10 crore for protecting the State Animal, Nilgiri Tahr, the Project Nilgiri Tahr. The Environment, Climate Change, and Forest Department Secretary, Supriya Sahu has stated that the scheme is a significant measure to save the species, which is being implemented for the first time in the state.
"The species is endangered, as the living tahrs in the Western Ghats are now endemic. And we have to protect it as it has a significant identity associated with the state's ecosystem. Supriya Sahu said.
She added that a separate unit headed by the Project Director will be set up to carry out the security work and the head office for the project will be set up in Coimbatore soon. Explaining the plan, she said the work will begin by monitoring and mapping the habitats of animals and people in the region.
"We don't have a recent study of the Nilgiris. So we planned to start this project with mapping and data collection." Supriya added that this helps to troubleshoot the problems with the habitats, shrinking ethnic population, and added that they hoped this will help in better understanding. In the next phase, the department has planned to reorganize the species' traditional habitats and then implement steps to improve their habitat by enriching the factors required for their livelihood. Awareness about Nilgiri Tahr will also be held simultaneously, she said.
Supriya said that the Environmentalists and wildlife researchers welcome the announcement of the state's wildlife conservation plan. Only if such schemes are implemented can the endangered species be protected.
Wildlife scientist M Ananthakumar of the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) said the move will help protect the primary, flagship/umbrella species of the mountain grassland ecosystem in the Western Ghats. "There are only a few places like Mukurthi National Park in the Nilgiris, Anamalai Hills in Tamil Nadu, and Munnar Hills in Kerala where the animal lives. They live only on grasslands and mountain peaks. If this species is protected, it will help in enriching the environment in such places."
Wildlife activist Osai K Kalidasan said, "As per research, there are only 3,000 in the area, which is a rare species found only on both sides of the Palakkad range, the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border. Therefore, the government's plan should be to expand its habitat and increase the population. The government should ensure that the endangered species recover its occupied habitat and prevent poaching in the border areas of the state where people live. We expect this project to have many such healthy activities," he says.
The Tamil Nadu budget for FY 2022-23 was presented yesterday, the 18th of March. The State Government allocated an amount of Rs.10 crore for protecting the State Animal, Nilgiri Tahr, the Project Nilgiri Tahr. The Environment, Climate Change, and Forest Department Secretary, Supriya Sahu has stated that the scheme is a significant measure to save the species, which is being implemented for the first time in the state.
"The species is endangered, as the living tahrs in the Western Ghats are now endemic. And we have to protect it as it has a significant identity associated with the state's ecosystem. Supriya Sahu said.
She added that a separate unit headed by the Project Director will be set up to carry out the security work and the head office for the project will be set up in Coimbatore soon. Explaining the plan, she said the work will begin by monitoring and mapping the habitats of animals and people in the region.
"We don't have a recent study of the Nilgiris. So we planned to start this project with mapping and data collection." Supriya added that this helps to troubleshoot the problems with the habitats, shrinking ethnic population, and added that they hoped this will help in better understanding. In the next phase, the department has planned to reorganize the species' traditional habitats and then implement steps to improve their habitat by enriching the factors required for their livelihood. Awareness about Nilgiri Tahr will also be held simultaneously, she said.
Supriya said that the Environmentalists and wildlife researchers welcome the announcement of the state's wildlife conservation plan. Only if such schemes are implemented can the endangered species be protected.
Wildlife scientist M Ananthakumar of the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) said the move will help protect the primary, flagship/umbrella species of the mountain grassland ecosystem in the Western Ghats. "There are only a few places like Mukurthi National Park in the Nilgiris, Anamalai Hills in Tamil Nadu, and Munnar Hills in Kerala where the animal lives. They live only on grasslands and mountain peaks. If this species is protected, it will help in enriching the environment in such places."
Wildlife activist Osai K Kalidasan said, "As per research, there are only 3,000 in the area, which is a rare species found only on both sides of the Palakkad range, the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border. Therefore, the government's plan should be to expand its habitat and increase the population. The government should ensure that the endangered species recover its occupied habitat and prevent poaching in the border areas of the state where people live. We expect this project to have many such healthy activities," he says.