One Tiger Reserve and three wildlife sanctuaries will become unsuitable for the wild mountain ungulate in the future due to climate change
A new study has predicted that most of the existing habitats of the Nilgiri Tahr in the Western Ghats will become unsuitable as global warming intensifies.
The Nilgiri Tahr is an endangered, hoofed mammal or ungulate endemic to the Western Ghats. In fact, it is the only mountain ungulate in India amongst 12 other species of ungulates. Historically, the Nilgiri Tahr was found everywhere in the Western Ghats but currently only 3,000 exist and their habitat is restricted to one-tenth of their original range. Currently, they are found only in the southern Western Ghats in an altitude range of 1,100 metres to 2,600 metres.
The study has been published by a team of five scientists, including two from the Bengaluru-based non-profit Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) in the journal, Ecological Engineering. It indicates that the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu and the Peppara, Neyyar Schenduruny and Srivilliputhur wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala and Tamil Nadu will become unsuitable for the Tahr in the future due to climate change.
The study is first of its kind to use the ecological niche model to predict the species distribution of the Tahr in varying climate scenarios, according to a press release by ATREE. The ecological niche model uses the relationship between a species and its habitat to identify potential species distribution.
The future climate projections in the study were based on two scenarios, the first scenario represented an optimistic emission rate, with peaking of emissions by 2040, while the second scenario represented continuous rise in emissions all through the 21st century. The study looked into these scenarios over a course of three time frames (2030s (2021–2050), 2050s (2040–2069) and 2080s (2070–2099)). It predicted a maximum habitat loss of 61.2 per cent, 61.4 per cent and 63 per cent for 2030, 2050 and 2080 respectively if emissions did not reduce.
The study comes at a significant time as there has been a continuous decline in Tahr populations owing to hunting, conflict with livestock, grazing and habitat loss over the years and no study till date has looked into the likely effect of climate change on the Nilgiri Tahr.
The study also forewarns that the existing protected area network might not be effective in conserving the Tahr if climate mitigation measures are not adopted in management plans of protected areas. The study recommends surveys for improving the condition of existing habitats.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
Nilgiri Tahr Credit: ATREE.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.