POPULATION AND CONSERVATION STATUS OF THE NILGIRI TAHR HEMITRAGUS-HYLOCRIUS IN ANAMALAI HILLS, SOUTH-INDIA

The endangered Nilgiri tahr Hemitragus hylocrius is endemic to the Wes tern Chats mountains in south India. The largest existing population i nhabits the Anamalai conservation unit (Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, P arambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, and Eravikulam National Park) straddli ng the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. We undertook a survey to asses s the conservation status of Nilgiri tahr in the Anamalai-Parambikulam area of the conservation unit. Altogether, 348 tahr were sighted in 1 2 separate grassland areas, including two populations which had not be en recorded previously. The present population of Nilgiri tahr in Anam alai and Parambikulam sanctuaries is estimated to be between 570 and 6 90 animals. Together with the Eravikulam population, the Anamalai cons ervation unit therefore contains some 1400 Nilgiri tahr. We found evid ence of poaching in five of the 12 areas surveyed. Tahr habitat is als o threatened by the spread of wattle Acacia mearnsii in one area, and by extensive livestock grazing in another. Comparisons are made with t he successful conservation measures taken in Eravikulam and recommenda tions made for control of poaching in Anamalai-Parambikulam area. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.