Chokramudi Hills

Context: The Chokramudi hills in Kerala, previously a hub for illegal encroachment and construction, have been reclaimed by the government and transformed into a thriving natural habitat.

• This restoration has led to the return of the endangered Nilgiri tahr and the revival of the rare Neelakurinji

About Chokramudi Hills:

What it is?

• Chokramudi is one of the highest and most ecologically fragile peaks in the Munnar region. It is characterized by high-altitude shola-grassland ecosystems that are vital for the hydrology and biodiversity of the Western Ghats.

Located In: Bison Valley Panchayat, near Munnar in the Idukki district of Kerala.

Key Features:

• Strategic Elevation: Being one of the tallest peaks in the area, it offers a distinct microclimate suitable for high-altitude flora and fauna.
• Neelakurinji Habitat: The hills are a major site for the mass flowering of Strobilanthes kunthiana (Neelakurinji), which blooms once every 12 years.
• Eravikulam Link: Its proximity to the Eravikulam National Park makes it a natural corridor for the movement of mountain ungulates.
• Grassland Ecosystem: The peak is covered with Montane Grasslands, which act as a sponge for rainwater, feeding downstream areas like Bison Valley.

About Nilgiri Tahr: (Nilgiritragus hylocrius)

What it is?

• The Nilgiri tahr is a sturdy, mountain goat-like ungulate. It is the State Animal of Tamil Nadu and is the only species of caprine (goat-antelope) found in tropical India.

Habitat:

• Open Montane Grasslands: They prefer high-altitude grasslands interspersed with shola forests (stunted tropical montane forests).
• Cliffs and Crags: They are exceptionally agile and live on steep, rocky cliffs which they use as escape terrain to flee from predators like leopards and tigers.
• Geographic Range: Endemic to the Western Ghats, primarily restricted to a narrow stretch between the Nilgiri Hills and the Kanyakumari hills.

IUCN Status:  Endangered (EN).

Key Characters:

• Sexual Dimorphism: Males are larger and darker than females. Adult males develop a distinct light-colored patch on their backs, earning them the name Saddlebacks.
• Curved Horns: Both sexes possess backward-curved horns, though they are larger and more robust in males.
• Social Structure: They live in social groups called droves, typically consisting of several females and their young, led by a dominant male.
• Bristly Mane: Adult males feature a short, dark, bristly mane along the back of the neck and shoulders.