FLAGSHIP OF THE HIGHLANDS

The Nilgiri tahr inhabits the cliffs and slopes of the shola-grassland ecosystems of the higher reaches
of the Western Ghats. Once abundant throughout its range, the tahr fell victim to hunting and
habitat loss, mainly the conversion of vast tracts of montane grasslands into tea estates and other
plantations. Like forests, grasslands are unique ecoSystems with many such endemic and endangered
species. A few tahr populations have recovered due to the effective protection of some large tracts of
grassland.
The Nilgiri tahr is closely related to a species found in the temperate Himalaya (the Himalayan tahr).
Many other plants and animals in the Western Ghats have close relatives in the Himalayas due to
connectivity between the regions during cooler glacial periods.