Nature enthusiasts from Coimbatore, with the help of the Forest Department, carried out the butterfly census in the forest areas of Coimbatore. A total of 16 teams were engaged in a two-day butterfly census in seven divisions. Of these, 170 butterflies, including rare species of butterflies were a feast to the eyes of the surveyors and photographers.
COIMBATORE: Nature is the bulwark of this earth, with dense forests being home to a variety of wildlife, from majestic elephants to worms. From seed dispersal to plant growth, the service rendered by biodiversity is immense.
Butterflies which were a common sighting until a few years ago have become rare over time. Thus far, 328 butterflies have been documented in the butterfly census conducted in Tamil Nadu. Of these, 275 butterflies were documented in Coimbatore forest area alone.
Nature enthusiasts from Coimbatore, from The Nature and Butterfly Society and other organisations with the help of the Forest Department, were engaged in butterfly survey work to ascertain the current status of butterfly life in the forest areas of Coimbatore. A total of 16 teams were engaged in a two-day butterfly census in seven divisions. Of these, 170 butterflies, including rare species of butterflies were a feast to the eyes of the surveyors and photographers.
For the first time, a rare species of butterfly called the Maculet Lancer was spotted in the forest. Salanoemia sala, the maculate lancer, is a butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae found in India, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. The butterfly was spotted at Poluvampatti in Siruvani division of the Coimbatore forest cover. Surveyors stated that they had never seen this butterfly species in Coimbatore before.
The Siruvani and Kallar forest divisions have now become hot spots for various butterfly species like Malabar, Skipper, White for Busbrown, Philippine Swift, Neilgiri Kissis Yellow, Maddus Brown, Tamil Yoman, Angled Flat, Brode, Tinni Cross Blue, Peonir, Chocolate Albatro, Dark Serulin, Indian Sunbeam, Common Acacia Blue, Common Vander, Common Wander, Common Acacia Blue.
The butterfly census which was done in the second week of November this year enabled surveyors to document the butterflies spotted in the two divisions of Siruvani and Kallar. Among the large number of butterflies spotted during the census in both areas, 240 butterflies have been documented in the Siruvani division and 210 butterflies in the Kallar division.
Therefore, nature enthusiasts have demanded that the Forest Department should take appropriate steps to protect these two areas and take appropriate steps to improve butterfly life in these areas.
Forest activists advise that we should enjoy just watching the butterflies and not touch them with our hands since it would harm them. They also highlighted that under the law, it is a crime to trouble butterflies. Like elephants and tigers, butterflies also fall under the scheduled category. Therefore, there is a provision in the forest law to impose a jail term if they are troubled or killed. Nature enthusiasts opine that everyone should realise that butterfly is the foremost of the biodiversity that protects this biosphere. As much as we need to protect butterflies, the truth is that butterflies actually protect us, if preserved.
