Ecological Challenges Facing the Nilgiris:
1.Habitat Loss: Non-native plants like Lantana and Eucalyptus outcompete local flora, harming wildlife habitats.
2.Urbanization and Agricultural Expansion: Expansion of urban areas and tea/coffee plantations cause habitat destruction and fragmentation.
3.Climate Change: Altered weather patterns shifting plant and animal distributions, lead to biodiversity loss and increased soil erosion.
4.Unregulated Tourism: Increased tourist activity causes littering, habitat disturbance, and putting pressure on sensitive ecosystems.
5.Human-Animal Conflicts: Expansion into wildlife areas, especially with elephants raiding crops, leads to retaliatory killings.