The Nilgiri tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) is an ungulate that is endemic to India. It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu. Despite its local name, it is more closely related to the sheep of the genus Ovis than the ibex and wild goats of the genus Capra.
The Nilgiri tahr has a stocky body with short, coarse fur and a bristly mane. Males are larger than females and of darker color when mature. Both sexes have curved horns, and adult males develop a light grey area on their backs, and thus are called "saddlebacks".
Nilgiri tahrs are native to the Nilgiri Hills and the southern portion of the Western and Eastern Ghats in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in Southern India. They live in open montane grasslands of the South Western Ghats montane rain forests ecoregion.
Nilgiri tahrs are social animals and live in herds that may consist of 6 individuals or as large as 100-150; these herds may be mixed or contain only males or only adult females and their young. Nilgiri tahrs are active between dawn and dusk. During midday, herds usually rest in shades of cliff faces which also serve as a cover when tahrs escape from predators. While the herd is resting one member remains alert watching for predators. Nilgiri tahrs have very acute eyesight and are able to spot danger at a far distance; with any sight of danger, they produce an alarm call that sounds like a snort or whistle.
Nilgiri tahrs are herbivores (graminivores, folivores). They feed on various grasses, shrubs, leaves, and forbs.
Nilgiri tahrs are polygynous meaning that males mate with more than one female. They may breed year-round but the peak of the rutting season usually occurs at the end of July and continues until August. Females can give birth twice per year. They usually give birth to a single young after a gestation period that lasts around 6-7 months. For the first few weeks the newly born infant, called a kid remains hidden while the mother leaves to feed. At the age of 2 months, the kid is able to follow its mother. The young will be completely weaned at 4 or 6 months and reach reproductive maturity at around 3 years of age.
The main threats to Nilgiri tahrs are habitat loss mainly due to overgrazing of domestic livestock and the spread of invasive plants, illegal hunting, and climate change.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total Nilgiri tahr population size is around 1,800-2,000 individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Endangered (EN), and its numbers today are decreasing.
