Few biologists have been fortunate enough to sight the Nilgiri Marten (Martes gwatkinsii).The only species of marten found in southern India, they’re so rarely seen that no scientific study has been done on them yet.Most of what we know about the Nilgiri Marten today is based on scattered sightings and anecdotal observations.We don’t know their population size. However, they’re classified as vulnerable, according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is estimated that there’s only a thousand of them around.

The ‘Mara Naai’ Of The Nilgiris

by Prakash Ramakrishnan | Aadya Singh

  • Few biologists have been fortunate enough to sight the Nilgiri Marten (Martes gwatkinsii).
  • The only species of marten found in southern India, they’re so rarely seen that no scientific study has been done on them yet.
  • Most of what we know about the Nilgiri Marten today is based on scattered sightings and anecdotal observations.
  • We don’t know their population size. However, they’re classified as vulnerable, according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is estimated that there’s only a thousand of them around.