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Rare Nilgiri Marten Highlights Western Ghats Conservation Challenge
The Nilgiri marten is a small animal related to weasels.
It lives only in the Western Ghats of India.
Fewer than 1,000 mature Nilgiri martens are estimated to remain.
Its fur is dark brown, reddish near the front and yellow or orange around the throat.
It is awake during the day and often moves through trees.
It eats small animals, insects, fruits and seeds.
People rarely see it because it lives in dense forests and moves quickly.
Protecting shola forests, grasslands and nearby reserve forests may help this unusual animal survive.
The Nilgiri marten is found only in India’s Western Ghats and has fewer than 1,000 mature individuals globally.
The IUCN classifies the small carnivore as Vulnerable.
Its chocolate-brown coat, reddish forequarters and yellow-to-orange throat make it distinctive.
The diurnal, tree-dwelling marten eats birds, small mammals, insects, fruits and seeds.
Most studied records came from shola forests and grasslands, underscoring the importance of connected habitats.
- Who
- The Nilgiri marten, a rare small carnivore native to southern India, was highlighted by IAS officer Supriya Sahu using a photograph by wildlife photographer R Vidhya Vigashini.
- What
- A photograph drew public attention to the Nilgiri marten’s rarity, appearance and conservation needs.
- Where
- The species lives only in the Western Ghats, including areas of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
- When
- Supriya Sahu shared the photograph on X on May 13, 2026, around Endangered Species Day on May 15.
- Why
- The marten is difficult to detect, has fewer than 1,000 mature individuals globally and depends on vulnerable connected forests, grasslands and mountain ecosystems.
Key facts
- Conservation status
- Vulnerable, according to the IUCN.
- Estimated population
- Fewer than 1,000 mature individuals globally.
- Range
- The Western Ghats, including parts of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
- Size
- About 55–65 cm in head-and-body length, with a 40–45 cm tail; roughly 2 kg.
- Activity
- Diurnal, meaning it is active during the day.
- Primary habitat
- Shola forests, grasslands and high-elevation forest-grassland mosaics.
- Study findings
- A 2023 study examined 165 opportunistic records collected over 10 years in the Nilgiris; 67% came from shola forests and 22% from grasslands.
Sources
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