CHENNAI, OCT 12 : In a historic move, the Tamil Nadu Government on Thursday launched its ambitious flagship project “The Nilgiri Tahr” for conservation of Tamil Nadu’s State Animal.

Chief Minister M.K.Stalin launched “The Project Nilgiri Tahr” involving an outlay of Rs 25 crore at the State Secretariat by unveiling a plaque and distributing books to school students to create awareness about Nilgiri Tahr among them.

Locally known as “Varai Aadu”, the “Nilgiri Tahr” is an endangered species endemic to the Western Ghats known for their gravity defying skills in climbing steep cliff.

These mountain goats are aptly called “Mountain Monarch”, an official release said.

There are multiple references to Nilgiri Tahr in the Sangam Tamil literature written over 2,000 years ago. Two of the five great epics of the Sangam period, Silappathikaram and Seevakasindamani, include descriptions of the Nilgiri Tahr and its habitat.

Moreover, in books such as Natrinai, Aingurunooru, Paripadal, Pathitruppathuu and Patinapalai from Pathinen Melkanakku Noolgal the Nilgiri Tahr is mentioned. The play, Courtallar Kuravanji, written by Trikoodarasappak Kavirayar in 1600-1700 A.D. describes Nilgiri Tahr in a song “Kurathi malai valam kooral” is one of animal that indicates the biodiversity richness of the region.

As a testimony to its ecological and cultural significance in Tamil Nadu,Nilgiri Tahr has been declared as a State Animal of Tamil Nadu.(UNI)