The census of Nilgiri tahr will be held in more areas outside the Eravikulam National Park (ENP) this time.
The census would be held from April 18 to 24, said ENP assistant wildlife warden Job J. Neriyamparambil. He said due to the COVD-19 situation, the census outside the ENP was not held for the past two years. However, the presence of Nilgiri tahr was noticed outside ENP, and Munnar, Marayur and Mankulam divisions, Chinnar and Mannavanchola National Park, Meesapulimala, Kolukkumala, Silent Valley, Virpara, and Varayattumudy, would be surveyed for the presence of Nilgir tahr.
The census would be held dividing the area into 29 blocks and in each block, a five-member team would survey the presence of Nilgiri tahr. Each block has an area of six to seven square kilometres. In addition to the Forest Department officials, members of Forestry College and NGOs (non-governmental organisations) would participate in the census.
In the last census, the presence of 782 Nilgiri tahrs was noted that included 145 newborns. The 90-square kilometre area of ENP was declared a national park exclusively for the protection of Nilgiri tahr in its natural habitat and for the past 10 years, its number was almost stable.
