About the Nilgiri Tahr
The Nilgiri tahr is a wild mountain goat found only in the southern Western Ghats — one of the most geographically restricted large mammals in India. With a global population of only around 3,000 individuals, it is classified as Endangered, and Eravikulam National Park in Kerala shelters the world's largest single population. The species is an iconic indicator of the health of the high-altitude Shola-grassland ecosystem that caps the Nilgiri and Anamalai hills.
Nilgiri tahrs are stocky, sure-footed animals with thick, curved horns and a dark brown coat. Males develop a saddle-shaped pale patch on their backs when mature — giving them the local name "Nilgiri ibex with a saddle". Unlike most wild ungulates that are shy and flee readily, the Nilgiri tahr at Eravikulam has become remarkably habituated to human presence and can be observed at close range from the park's walking trail. The adjacent high-altitude plateau of Rajamalai, carpeted with Neelakurinji shrubs that bloom blue every twelve years, adds a botanical dimension to the experience.
- Eravikulam is the easiest and most rewarding place to see Nilgiri tahr — the habituated population on the Rajamalai plateau allows remarkably close approaches.
- Also look for tahr on rocky cliff faces in the Mukurthi and Anamalai Tiger Reserve zones — they favour steep, rocky terrain for safety.
- Visit in the morning when tahr are most active on the grassland edge. By midday they often retreat to cliff ledges for shade.