Tamil Nadu Allocates ₹1 Crore for Conservation of Lesser-Known Endangered Species

The Tamil Nadu government has sanctioned ₹1 crore to protect four lesser-known endangered species: the lion-tailed macaque, Madras hedgehog, striped hyena and hump-headed mahseer. The allocation, formalized through a Government Order on September 29, 2025, follows an announcement made in the State Assembly in March 2025. Funds are distributed as ₹48.5 lakh for the lion-tailed macaque, ₹20.5 lakh for the Madras hedgehog, ₹14 lakh for the striped hyena, and ₹17 lakh for the hump-headed mahseer. The program aims to support habitat monitoring, long-term population studies, conservation breeding, and community awareness initiatives to protect these ecologically significant yet overlooked species in Tamil Nadu.