Nilgiri Tahr

Nilgiri Tahr is an endangered animal in India 

One of the most recognisable pictures of endangered animals in India is the Nilgiri Tahr. The Nilgiri Tahr is an ungulate found in South Indian states like Kerala, and Tamil Nadu (where it is the state animal). Closely related to sheep, this stocky mountain-goat like creature is found in elevated grasslands and stunted forests. Nilgiri Tahrs have short coarse fur and curved horns. These creatures are currently classed as endangered, due to habitat loss and poaching. However, concerted conservation efforts have helped bring the Nilgiri Tahr numbers up from just 100 in the early 1900s to around 3000 today. However, there is still a lot of work left to be done to ensure that the population of Nilgiri Tahrs continues to flourish in South India.