Biology

Outside of the breeding season, males gather in bachelor herds on the best grazing areas, building up their strength for the coming rut. The rutting season begins with the onset of the monsoon rains at the end of July, and continues for two months throughout the heavy rainfall (6). During courtship, males will wet themselves in their own urine and even decorate their horns with mud and grasses (6). When two or more males are competing for the attentions of the same female, fights can break out and whilst a sharp head butt may be enough to settle these, well-matched competitors can tussle for hours (6). Females usually give birth to a single young after a gestation period of around 180 days (2). Nilgiri tahr feed by grazing on the grasses and shrubs of their mountain home (6).