Coimbatore: Western Ghats is home to innumerable biodiversities. The mountain just thrives because of the flora and fauna here.
Coimbatore: Western Ghats is home to innumerable biodiversities. The mountain just thrives because of the flora and fauna here.
The importance given to wildlife such as elephants, tigers and other animals is equally accorded to bird and butterfly species. If there is a point that humans unite irrespective of caste, creed, religion or language, it is preservation of wildlife. Many such enthusiasts capture the pictures of wildlife.
It is easy to photograph large animals but capturing pictures of a butterfly is an arduous task that requires patience, attention to detail and oodles of patience.
Butterflies have the ability to vary their morphologies according to the balance of nature during the rainy and dry seasons. The Common Evening Brown, which has a darker complexion during the rainy season sports many different color variations during the dry season.
Darshan Trivedi, a civil servant from Coimbatore, has been listed in the India Book of Records for documenting 67 morphological variations of the Common Evening Brown.
When Simplicity spoke to him about this feat, he said, "My hometown is Ahmedabad in Gujarat. I capturing photos in 2010. I would travel 20-30 kilometers to capture photos as all that is around me are building. Since I am in a government job, I was transferred to Coimbatore in 2013. I now live in Saibaba Colony. Unlike other places, it is a very quiet and lush place.
I often visit the Agricultural University nearby. One day I shot pictures of the Common Evening Brown in 10 different morphologies. Much later, during dry weather, I came to know that this particular butterfly has many more morphological appearances. Following that, I documented 67 variants in the morphology of the Common Evening Brown and sent them to the India Book of Records.
The organisation certified him on the basis of data provided by WWF, BNHS, TNBS, and CNS. There are many more variants yet to be documented. All the photographs were shot in Coimbatore. I have been working through Coimbatore Natural Society (CNS) and since I am a government official, I go out on my weekly offs to capture more of the Common Evening Brown. I have been stationed in Coimbatore for 7 years now. The climate and the environment here makes me feel at home."
We also spoke to Paventhan, the co-ordinator of the Coimbatore Natural Society, about the Common Evening Brown. He said, "There are three types of Common Evening Brown. It won't be seen much during the day. Attracted by the lights, it usually comes out in the evenings. During the rainy season, it is found in areas covered with lush grass and shrubs.
When it is dry, it changes its dark color to that of a dry leaf brown in order to escape from its foes. Lots of research is happening about this species and we can know more about them as these studies are published."