Nilgiri Tahr
Hemitragus hylocrius
About This Species
Found exclusively in the shola-grassland mosaics of the Western Ghats, these stocky, sure-footed ungulates favour steep rocky escarpments and open montane grasslands above 1,200 metres, where they graze in small herds that typically include one dominant male with his distinctive saddle-shaped pale patch on the back. Scan cliff faces and grassy ridgelines carefully, as their tawny-brown coats blend well against rock and dry grass, and listen for the clatter of hooves on loose stone that often betrays movement before the animals are visible. The cool, dry months from October through February offer the clearest sightlines after monsoon grasses have receded, and dawn hours around water sources and salt licks in protected areas like Eravikulam National Park provide the most reliable and close encounters.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Maintain a minimum distance of 100 metres at all times, using binoculars or a telephoto lens rather than approaching closer, and never attempt to cut off escape routes or approach breeding groups, as stress during the October–January rutting season can seriously disrupt reproductive success.
- In India, this species receives full protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, making harassment, feeding, or deliberate disturbance a serious criminal offence, and the same strict protections apply within the Eravikulam and Mukurthi National Parks, which together hold the core population.
- Keep noise to a minimum, avoid sudden movements, stay on marked trails, and leave immediately if individuals show signs of alertness such as raised heads, stamping, or movement away from the group.
Seasonal Activity
511 sightings · 2002–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammalia
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Bovidae
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.