Tahr population stable at Eravikulam

Conservation measures are paying rich dividends at the Eravikulam National Park in the form of a stable population of Nilgiri tahr, a mountain goat endemic to the southern Western Ghats. The latest tahr count, held during April and May, has put the population of the endangered species at 747.
Going by the official figures, the population has increased — from 686 in 2007 to 743 in 2008 and four more than that figure in 2009.The national park houses the largest surviving population of the animal, the authorities say. The tahr count was carried out in the 13 blocks in the park as mentioned in its management plan. Survey teams, consisting of members of non-governmental organisations, students of veterinary and forestry colleges, the field staff of the Forest Department and the Muthuvan tribal trackers, covered the park for five consecutive days. Rajan Varghese was the chief coordinator of the survey. The animals are relatively safe at the park, on the Kanan Devan Hills of the south Western Ghats in Devikulam taluk of Idukki district, say the survey team members.While accepting the survey figures, wildlife experts highlight the need for introducing new scientific methods for counting the population.

P.O. Nameer, assistant coordinator of the exercise, says aerial surveys using satellite-imaging can be one such method. The application of scientific measures will help in validating the population figures, says Dr. Nameer, the South Asian Coordinator of the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission, IUCN. E.A. Jayson, also an assistant coordinator, feels that it is time for taking a re-look at the present model of counting. Suggestions for introducing new models have been raised at appropriate forums. New methods need to be tried in the coming years for cross-checking and arriving at the exact figures, says Dr. Jayson, a wildlife expert at the Division of Wildlife Biology, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi.The present method of “bounded counts” was introduced back in the early 1980s. This needs to be replaced with new methods incorporating the advancements in science and technology, experts say.

The Hindu, November 6th , 2009