Munnar: The Eravikulam National Park at Rajamala, which was closed for the calving season of the endangered Nilgiri tahr, will be opened for public from Wednesday.

The Munnar Wildlife Warden had recommended to the Chief Wildlife Warden that the ban on visitors should be extended till April 15 as the calving season extended. Though forest guards spot nearly 80 Nilgiri tahr babies by the end of March, this year, till now, they have counted only below 70 newborns.

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Normally, calving among the tahrs should have peaked during February-March and the visitors would have been allowed, starting early April. The extension up to April 15 was recommended this year as it was noted that the calving season would not get over by March.

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However, the forest officers could only add some 15 odd calves to the 40 they have found in Rajamala during the February-March. Experts have expressed concern over the dip in the count over the years.

Facilities for visitors

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The Kerala Forest Department has readied various facilities for the visitors. A comfort station near the ticket counter at Ancham Mile, LED screens to display official announcements and infotainments, drinking water stations at Rajamala and Ancham Mile, bio-toilets and shelters at Rajamala are among these.

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