Kochi: Though the increase in the population of Nilgiri Tahrs (hemitragas hylocres) in the Eravikulam National Park, Munnar, in the recent months has brought some cheer to environment enthusiasts, problems such as illicit liquor distillation, sandalwood smuggling and land encroachment are posing a major threat to conservation of this endangered species. The High Range Wildlife and Environment Preservation Association (HRW&EPA), an agency working for the preservation of the wildlife, is planning to hold an interface with various stakeholders this year to face these challenges.
Mohan Varghese, chairman of the association, said illicit distillation of liquor along the periphery of the park was a real menace.
"Sandalwood smugglers use Eravikulam as a transit route to the Anchanand valley. Smuggling of sandal from Marayur induces large gangs to trespass through the park. With Munnar becoming a tourist hotspot, haphazard construction and encroachment are some of the other challenges that the association faces," he said.
Sources in the park said ganja cultivation, which involves large-scale clearing of forestland and poaching, are other problems along with unplanned fires. Invasion of Ageratina (Eupatorium) is noticed in some areas, they added. Mohan Varghese said the meeting was aimed at bringing in experts in the field who were capable of giving valuable advice in this regard. "The meeting would be held in association with the Delhi-based agency, Worldwide Fund for Nature, India. It will work to promote only sustainable development and assist the local administration to promote carefully planned eco-tourism."
The number of tahrs in the forests in the State has suffered a steep drop in recent years - from 1,008 in 1997 to 600 in 2002. But in the recent years, it recorded an increase and according to the available statistics, the estimated present population is around 750. The Eravikulam National Park has the largest population of Nilgiri Tahr anywhere. The 97 sqkm park is situated at an altitude of 1,400 to 2,695 metres along the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border.
The Nilgiri Tahr's domains are the hills of South India, ranging from Nilgiri to Anamalai and then southwards along the Western Ghats. The Nilgiri Tahr prefers open terrain, cliffs and grass-covered hills, a habitat largely confined to altitudes from 1,200 to 2,600 m. Their habitat extended far and wide all along these hills in the past, but hunting and habitat destruction have decimated them to such an extent that they now exist only in a few isolated sites.
The Eravikulam area, once also known as Hamilton's Plateau, used to be the private shooting reserve of the Kannan Devan Hills Produce Company. Protected from poachers, pastoral tribes and agriculturalists since 1895 by the High Range Game Preservation Association, as well due to the towering cliffs that border plateau, the tahrs have remained relatively undisturbed in recent years.
In 1971, the State Government took over this area under the resumption of excess land. Taking into consideration the unique fauna and flora of the area and the endangered status of the Nilgiri Tahr, the Government declared the area as a wildlife sanctuary in 1975 and declared it as a National Park in 1978.
