Once celebrated for its cool climate, predictable monsoons, and rich biodiversity, the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is now showing visible signs of climate stress. Changing weather patterns, including erratic rainfall, prolonged dry spells, and rising temperatures, are disrupting fragile ecosystems and affecting both wildlife and local communities. Experts warn that these shifts are altering water availability, vegetation cycles, and agricultural practices across the region.

The Nilgiris, part of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, host rare species and unique montane grasslands that depend heavily on stable climatic conditions. However, climate variability combined with human pressures such as land-use changes and pollution is accelerating ecological imbalance. Scientists and conservationists highlight that shrinking native habitats and declining grasslands threaten endemic species and weaken natural wildlife corridors.

Beyond biodiversity loss, the crisis carries socio-economic consequences. Farmers face unpredictable growing seasons, while residents struggle with declining groundwater and environmental instability. The situation reflects a broader climate warning: even protected ecological landscapes are no longer insulated from global warming. Without coordinated conservation, restoration, and community-led adaptation, the Nilgiris risk losing the ecological balance that once defined this iconic landscape.