Name: Nilgiri tahr

Food: Forbs, grass, shrubs and trees

Life span: 14-15 years

Sound/s: Grunting, whistle

Habitat: Western & Eastern ghats in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Other facts

• Nilgiri tahr are wild mountain goats with short, coarse fur and bristly mane. Males are larger than the females and sport a darker colour.
• They have curved horns, which are larger in the males, reaching up to 40 cm for males and 30 cm for females.
• Males develop a light grey area or “saddle” on their back and are hence called “saddlebacks”.
• Their horns reveal their age, as growth rings form each year — similar to tree rings — allowing scientists to estimate how old is every Nilgiri tahr.
• They are excellent climbers and can easily move up steep, rocky cliffs, which helps them escape predators and survive in rugged mountain habitats.