New Delhi, October 16: Kaziranga National Park has emerged as India's second butterfly diversity hub with the discovery of over 446 species, a new milestone for the park known for its iconic wildlife. This remarkable finding follows years of research led by Dr. Monsoon Jyoti Gogoi, a local scientist, according to a recent press release. Kaziranga now ranks second only to Namdapha National Park in Arunachal Pradesh for butterfly diversity.
The discovery was announced during the first-ever "Butterfly Conservation Meet-2024," held from September 27-29, which attracted around 40 butterfly enthusiasts from across India, including representatives from various universities and conservation groups. The meet featured presentations, such as one by Gaurab Nandi Das on butterfly taxonomy, and butterfly observation sessions in the Panbari Reserve Forest, a biodiversity hotspot.
A significant highlight of the event was the launch of a new pictorial guidebook on butterflies by Dr. Gogoi, documenting 446 species, with 18 new species recorded for India. The discovery underscores the park’s exceptional butterfly diversity, especially considering its location outside the typical butterfly-rich Himalayan and Patkai mountain ranges.
This event has strengthened efforts to promote butterfly conservation alongside Kaziranga’s famous "Big Five" species, with the hope of encouraging further research, habitat protection, and awareness of the crucial role butterflies play in ecosystems.
