Kaziranga emerges as India’s second butterfly diversity hub

Guwahati: In an exciting discovery, over 446 butterfly species have been reported from Kaziranga National Park in Assam making it the second highest in India next to Namdapha National Park in Arunachal Pradesh.

This remarkable finding is the result of years of research by Monsoon Jyoti Gogoi, a young scientist hailing from Kaziranga.

The first-ever Butterfly Conservation Meet-2024, held from September 27 to 29 this year, attracted approximately 40 butterfly enthusiasts from across the country.

Attendees included representatives from Meghalaya’s North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Assam’s Cotton University, various colleges of Assam, Maharashtra forest department, the Corbett Foundation and key members of the North East Butterflies group.

The event focused on detailed butterfly records and further dissemination of its status.

A notable presentation was given by Gaurab Nandi Das from the Czech Republic on the Taxonomy of Butterflies, which captivated the audience with its in-depth insights.

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This was followed by butterfly observation in different parts of the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong landscape, especially in the Panbari Reserve Forest, which is home to a diverse range of butterfly species.

A total of 85 species of butterflies were observed during the meet.

The other highlight of the event was the launch of a new pictorial guidebook on butterflies, authored by Monsoon Jyoti Gogoi.

The book documents 446 species of butterflies recorded in Kaziranga, 18 of which are new records for India.

These 18 new butterfly species are - Burmese Threering, Glassy Cerulean, Dark-bordered Hedge Blue, Andaman Yellow Banded Flat, Ferrar’s Cerulean, Great Red-vein Lancer, Peacock Oakblue, Singled-lined Flash, Yellow-tailed Awlking, White Palm Bob, Dark-dusted Palm Dart, Clavate Banded Demon, Pale-marked Ace, Yellow Onyx, Long-winged Hedge Blue, Ace sp, Hill Ace and Dwarf Banded Demon.

Monsoon Jyoti Gogoi, who has been studying butterflies in the region since 2007, shared that Kaziranga now ranks second in butterfly species diversity among India’s protected areas, after Namdapha National Park.

This record is particularly significant given Kaziranga’s location outside the Himalayan and Patkai mountain ranges, making its high species diversity a remarkable achievement.

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The Butterfly Conservation Meet aims to elevate awareness around the importance of butterfly conservation in Kaziranga.  

By highlighting the rich diversity of species in the region, the event encourages further research, monitoring and habitat protection initiatives.

It ensures that butterflies become an integral part of Kaziranga’s conservation priorities, alongside its iconic ‘Big Five’ animal species – the royal Bengal tiger, Indian one-horned rhinoceros, Asian elephant, wild water buffalo and swamp deer.

The meet laid a strong foundation for future efforts to preserve these vital pollinators and the ecosystems they support.