Sun Oct 12 11:13:40 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

A Nilgiri tahr, part of a radio-collaring program aimed at reintroducing the species to areas where it’s locally extinct, was killed by a tiger in Mukurthi National Park (MNP). Forest officials discovered the carcass after noticing the animal hadn’t moved for an extended period. A postmortem confirmed the tiger kill, and camera traps have confirmed the presence of the tiger in the area.

**News Article:**

**Tiger Predation Threatens Nilgiri Tahr Reintroduction Efforts in Mukurthi National Park**

**UDHAGAMANDALAM, October 12, 2025** – A significant setback has been dealt to efforts to reintroduce the endangered Nilgiri tahr to its former habitats. Forest officials have confirmed that a radio-collared tahr, part of an ongoing monitoring program in Mukurthi National Park (MNP), was preyed upon by a tiger.

The animal, collared in December 2024, was being closely tracked by the forest department to gather crucial data on its habits and habitat use. The program aims to eventually reintroduce the species to areas where it has become locally extinct.

On Friday, October 10th, officials noticed the tahr hadn’t moved for a prolonged duration, triggering a search. The carcass was discovered near Devil’s gap stream within MNP, along with the detached radio-collar. Evidence strongly indicated a large carnivore attack.

A subsequent postmortem confirmed that the tahr was killed by a tiger. Forest officials found signs of the predator nearby and deployed camera traps, which captured images of the tiger believed responsible for the kill on Saturday.

“This incident is a stark reminder of the challenges involved in reintroduction programs, especially in areas with established predator populations,” stated a forest department official. “While the loss of this individual is regrettable, the data gathered during its monitoring period remains invaluable to our long-term conservation strategy for the Nilgiri tahr.”

The forest department is now reassessing its reintroduction strategies and considering further measures to protect the vulnerable tahr population from tiger predation within Mukurthi National Park. The incident highlights the complex interplay between conservation efforts and the existing ecosystem.

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