With discussions under way to revive one of the oldest conservation associations, the Nilgiri Wildlife And Environment Association (NWEA), conservationists have highlighted the group’s contributions to preserving not just the biodiversity of the Nilgiris, but that of India, through its pioneering efforts in maintaining animal populations in the hills.
The NWEA came into existence in colonial India, when British colonists discovered a “hunters’ paradise” in the Nilgiris. According to N. Mohanraj, a Nilgiris-based conservationist and one of the NWEA’s longest-serving members, restrictions on hunting existed in England but they were non-existent in India.
“The Nilgiris, soon connected by the railways, became a magnet for European hunters from across the region. This influx, combined with the advent of more accurate breech-loading rifles, rapidly led to the decimation of local wildlife populations. Just 65 years after the first Europeans set foot in the Nilgiris, the decline in game numbers became alarming – even among the hunting community,” said Mr. Mohanraj.
It was during this distressing observation that General Richard Hamilton, an early advocate for wildlife protection, persistently urged the government to take action, by proposing a closed season for hunting and drafting what formally became the Nilgiris Game and Fish Preservation Act, 1879. Prior to this landmark piece of legislation, a key meeting was held in the Nilgiri library in Udhagamandalam, where the “Nilgiris Game Association,” the precursor to what would eventually become the NWEA, was born.
Mr. Mohanraj said the Act marked the beginning of structured wildlife conservation in the region, and in fact, served as a blueprint for conservation across India. “Thanks to this early initiative, the Nilgiris remains one of India’s most ecologically vibrant regions, even amid modern development,” he said.
The association also had watchers to help enforce the restrictions on hunting, with up to 17 watchers in its heyday. They also had four bungalows in the Nilgiris, which over the years have been handed over to the Forest Department in Mudumalai, two being submerged by hydroelectric projects, and only the one in Mukurthi National Park still with the association.
“The Association controlled and managed the fishes and wildlife of the Nilgiris with great success, leading to the creation of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mukurthi National Park. With the advent of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, the Association lost most of its power. The Forest Department took over all the activities, and the Association was no longer a hunting organisation. It metamorphosed into the Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association,” said Mr. Mohanraj.
Enduring contributions
Conservationists said the NWEA also played a pivotal role in the conservation of the Sigur Elephant Corridor; E.R.C. Davidar, an honorary secretary of the NWEA, identified the corridor, which eventually led to its protection by being declared India’s first elephant corridor.
Wildlife Week is also celebrated in the first week of October every year because the Association was formed in October. “Initially, the Wildlife Week would be organised and celebrated in Ooty annually. This later spread to other areas, where communities were involved in conservation. The State animal was declared to be the Nilgiri Tahr and this again, was due to the work of the Association in estimating the population along the Western Ghats,” said Mr. Mohanraj.
The Association, with the cooperation of the Wildlife Institute of Dehradun, was also responsible for introducing electric fences in India, with a workshop being organised in Vazhaithottam using the expertise of ranchers from New Zealand and Australia. They were brought to the Nilgiris to introduce this concept to discourage wild animals from entering Aavin’s farms in 1984.
Disputes and decline
Following a series of high-profile disputes, the then collector, Innocent Divya, closed the office of the NWEA and confiscated the keys to the premises. Over the years, renewed efforts have been undertaken to revive the association, with officials from the district administration confirming that discussions to the effect are ongoing.
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Conservationists state that its closure has led to the acceleration of damage to native ecology and wildlife, with projects and development activities being pushed through that would have otherwise faced stiff resistance. “Over its 140-year history, the NWEA has time and again been at the forefront of preserving the Nilgiris’ biodiversity. It is no coincidence that the acceleration of the negative impact to the region’s biodiversity has coincided with the NWEA’s decline,” said a conservationist who requested anonymity, calling on the Collector, who serves as the chairperson, to revive the association.
Published – February 11, 2026 07:00 am IST
