V. K. Rajeev. The survey was carried out under Project Nilgiri Tahr, a flagship conservation initiative to secure the future of the endemic mountain ungulate found only in the Western Ghats.
The population of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, Tamil Nadu’s State animal, has risen to an estimated 1,364, according to the third synchronised population survey, conducted jointly by the Tamil Nadu and Kerala Forest Departments.The estimate represents a 4.68% increase from the 1,303 animals recorded in 2025 and a 32% increase from the 1,031 estimated during the first synchronised survey in 2024.The findings were released on Friday by Minister for Forests R.V. Ranjith Kumar and Environment Minister V.K. Rajeev. Along with the Nilgiri Tahr report, they also released the State-level Synchronised Wetland Birds Survey 2026, State-level Synchronised Terrestrial Birds Survey 2026, and the Tamil Nadu State-wide Raptor Assessment Report.The survey was carried out under Project Nilgiri Tahr, a flagship conservation initiative to secure the future of the endemic mountain ungulate found only in the Western Ghats. It was conducted from April 24 to 27 across 177 survey blocks spanning all 14 forest divisions in Tamil Nadu. It covered 43 forest ranges and 124 forest beats across the Western Ghats.The exercise involved 858 personnel, including forest officers, frontline staff, scientists, researchers and veterinary doctors, who collectively trekked 3,219 km through rugged mountain terrain.For the first time, the Forest Department used the Android-based “Varudai” mobile application, enabling real-time transfer of field observations. The survey was conducted in coordination with institutions including the Kerala Forest Department, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)-India, Wildlife Institute of India, World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-India, TANUVAS University, Wildlife Trust of India and the Arignar Anna Zoological Park’s Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation.According to the report, 673 Nilgiri Tahrs were estimated in the two largest contiguous habitats — 360 in Grass Hills National Park in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve and 313 in Mukurthi National Park in the Nilgiris. The remaining 691 were recorded across fragmented habitats spread over 13 forest divisions.Among fragmented landscapes, Tiruppur division recorded the highest estimated population at 148 individuals, followed by Kalakad division with 115 and Pollachi division with 78. The report noted that The Anamalai landscape alone accounted for 44.87% of Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiri Tahr population, while the Nilgiris landscape held 29.25%.Five habitat blocksResearchers also documented Nilgiri Tahr in five habitat blocks where their presence had not been confirmed during previous synchronised surveys.Fresh sightings were recorded in Tiruvannamalai Mottai in Kalakad division, Rasivarai in Tiruppur division, Thoovanam Mottai in Megamalai division, and Kalaiyanputhur and Puramedu in Kodaikanal division.The survey found a male-to-female ratio of 55:100 and a female-to-young ratio of 100:66, indicating active breeding populations. The species was recorded across a wide altitudinal range, from around 270 metres above mean sea level to more than 2,630 metres.The report said the synchronised surveys conducted over the past three years indicate a steady increase in the species’ population and provide a strong scientific basis for long-term conservation planning, habitat restoration and management of fragmented populations.Senior officials who attended the event include Supriya Sahu, Environment and Forests Secretary; Srinivas R. Reddy, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force); Rakesh Kumar Dogra, Chief Wildlife Warden; and A. Udhayan, Director, Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation. Published - June 05, 2026 11:59 pm IST
BANGALORE, 27/02/2008: Six Monitor Lizards rescued from tribes from Bidadi, now with the safe custody of forest officials in Bangalore. Photo: K. Gopinathan 27/02/2008 | Personnel from the CID Forest Mobile Squad, acting on information, reached the riverbank near Sattegala handpost around 3.15 p.m. on Wednesday and found two individuals attempting to sell a live monitor lizard kept inside an iron cage, which was wrapped with a wire mesh, according to a statement.The officials immediately arrested the two persons, seized the animal and registered a case. The arrested persons have been identified as Sardar alias Mukhtar Pasha, 45, and Rafi, 44, both residents of Hunsur. The raid was conducted by Kollegal CID Forest Mobile Squad Police Sub-Inspector Avinash, along with personnel Basavaraj, Swamy, Jameel, Latha, Ramachandra, Prabhakar, and Basavaraj under the guidance of CID Forest Unit Inspector General of Police, Bengaluru, and Superintendent of Police of the Madikeri CID Forest Unit. Published - June 04, 2026 08:53 pm IST
A male tiger, Explorer, roams the Rajavommangi forest area in Polavaram district. | However, no attacks on humans have been reported.In an official statement, Chief Conservator of Forests (Rajahmundry) Th. Jyothi said: “The tiger had killed nine cattle including eight cattle in Pedarelangipadu and Chikilintha villages and one animal in Vathangi Beat in the Rajavommangi Forest Range”.Earlier, the tiger was tranquilised On February 6 at Kurmapuram village in Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema District, and was later released in the Papikonda National Park on February 14 after a week at the Animal Rescue Centre in Visakhapatnam.To prevent any untoward incidents in the tribal habitations, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Forests and Environment K. Pawan Kalyan directed the Forest Department authorities to capture the tiger.“We have deployed personnel, wildlife experts, veterinary teams, and are coordinating with the locals and police authorities for the effective management of the situation and tranquilisation”, said Ms. Jyothi. Published - May 29, 2026 09:25 pm IST
NCC cadets preparing seed balls in Visakhaptanam. File | R Deepak Forest officials and local volunteers have begun the mass production of seed balls for a drive to disperse 50 lakh of them across the erstwhile Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts, in a bid to widen the region’s green cover.The drive relies on indigenous, rare and drought-resistant tree species, chosen so the new growth can survive and last, and forms part of the State-wide “Harita Samaram” mission to plant 2.5 crore seed balls under the State government.Forest officials and volunteers met at the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary recently for a training programme on producing seed balls on a large scale, the first step towards the target of 50 lakh across the region. The event was attended by senior forest department officers, including Visakhapatnam Chief Conservator of Forests I.K.V. Raju, along with forest officers from Paderu, Parvathipuram, Chintapalli and Anakapalli.Addressing the training, Mr. Raju said environmental action was needed as weather patterns change, and asked the participants to use the seed balls to restore vegetation in the hill tracts, the plains and coastal areas through the coming monsoon. He also asked the public to help the Forest Department by donating seeds from native fruit trees to restore local biodiversity.The method was explained step by step. Participants were told to make a mixture of 70% fresh cow dung and 30% soil to hold and protect the seeds. The seed balls are then dried for three days in a well-ventilated, grass-free area so they do not sprout or rot before they reach the ground.The campaign sits within a larger State-wide effort under the goals set by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan, who want 2.5 crore seed balls spread across Andhra Pradesh to lift the State’s green cover.Speaking to The Hindu, a forest official in Anakapalli district said the district had been given a target of dispersing 20 lakh seed balls. “We are readying for it,” the official said. Published - May 28, 2026 05:51 pm IST
The 2025 census recorded 891 Asiatic lions in Gujarat. File photo. | Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel held a high-level meeting over the development on Wednesday (May 27, 2026).Four lion cubs have died in different areas of the Gir forest region, and 17 (adult) lions are being isolated and taken care of, an official release stated, citing the details shared by Principal Secretary, Forest and Environment, Vinod Rao, with the Chief Minister at the meeting held in Gandhinagar.Mr. Rao informed that all the lions within a radius of 10 km of Gir Gadhada and Babaria areas are being monitored intensively, and no other symptoms of disease have been detected in them."All the lions in the Mahsuli area of Amreli and Bhavnagar districts are also being monitored intensively by the Forest Department, and daily reports are being received."As part of the safety measures against such seasonal diseases seen at the beginning of summer, the de-ticking and other health measures are being taken for more than 350 lions in the Gir area," the release stated.Specialist doctors from Junagadh Veterinary College have also joined this operation, said Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Jaipal Singh.Forest Minister Arjun Modhwadia on Tuesday (May 26, 2026) said two lion cubs in the Gir forest region have died due to suspected Babesia virus infection, while three other big cats succumbed to natural causes and infighting in separate incidents.Modhwadia, however, ruled out the possibility of any major epidemic or disease outbreak in Gir forest, the last abode of the Asiatic lions.Babesia virus spreads through ticks and can cause weakness, coughing and nasal discharge in affected animals.Earlier, 11 lions had died in Gujarat within a month in 2018 due to a combination of canine distemper virus and protozoal infection.The 2025 census recorded 891 Asiatic lions in Gujarat. Published - May 28, 2026 09:11 am IST
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