Nilgiri marten

The Nilgiri marten is a fascinating and unique species of marten native to southern India. Predominantly found in the Nilgiris and parts of the Western Ghats, they are unfortunately listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, indicating a significant risk of endangerment in the wild.

In terms of appearance, the Nilgiri marten boasts a deep brown coat with reddish forequarters and a strikingly bright throat that varies in color from yellow to orange. It is larger than its relative, the yellow-throated marten, measuring approximately 55–65 cm in length, with a tail extending another 40–45 cm. Typically, they weigh around 2.1 kg.

The preferred habitat of Nilgiri martens includes shola grasslands and high-altitude evergreen forests. They occasionally venture into mid-altitude moist deciduous forests and even commercial plantations throughout the Western Ghats regions in Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Despite being named after the Nilgiri Hills, these martens have been observed in diverse areas, ranging from Charmadi Ghat to the Neyyar and Peppara Wildlife Sanctuaries.

Behaviorally, the Nilgiri marten is predominantly diurnal, spending considerable time in trees but occasionally descending to the ground. Their diet is varied, encompassing birds, small mammals, insects such as cicadas, as well as a range of fruits and seeds.