In a first of its kind initiative in India, the Government of Tamil Nadu announced the 'Nilgiri Tahr Project' on 28 December.

The Nilgiri Tahr is an ungulate that is endemic to the southern portion of the Western and Eastern Ghats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is mainly found the Nilgiri Hills. It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu. It is the only mountain ungulate in southern India among the 12 species found in India.

• The Nilgiri Tahr conservation project was launched by the Tamil Nadu Government with a total outlay of Rs.25.14 crore.
• It will be implemented from 2022 to 2027.
• Under this project, the state government seeks to improve the understanding of the Nilgiri Tahr’s present population status through surveys and radio telemetry studies.
• It also aims to reintroduce these ungulates to their historic habitats and address threats that are faced by them.