Kaziranga National Park Emerges as India’s Second Butterfly Haven with 446 Species

Kaziranga National Park, renowned for its iconic wildlife and the one-horned rhino, has added another feather to its cap with the discovery of over 446 butterfly species in the Park.

This remarkable discovery has made Kaziranga National Park the second butterfly hotspot after Namdapha National Park in Arunachal Pradesh.

The discovery is the result of years of dedicated research by Dr. Monsoon Jyoti Gogoi, a young scientist from Kaziranga, who has been studying the region’s butterflies since 2007.

Dr Gogoi launched a pictorial guidebook documenting the 446 butterfly species recorded in Kaziranga. Notably, 18 of these species are new records for India, including the Burmese Threering, Glassy Cerulean, and Peacock Oakblue, among others.

The discovery was highlighted during the inaugural Butterfly Conservation Meet-2024, held from September 27th to 29th. This first-of-its-kind event brought together approximately 40 butterfly enthusiasts across India, including representatives from North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Cotton University, the Maharashtra Forest Department, and the Corbett Foundation.

Attendees also included key members of the North East Butterflies group, who engaged in detailed discussions about butterfly conservation and the status of these species in the region.

Gaurab Nandi Das from the Czech Republic made a presentation on the Taxonomy of Butterflies.

Kaziranga’s high butterfly species diversity is particularly significant given its location outside the Himalayan and Patkai mountain ranges, which are typically rich in butterfly fauna. This achievement underscores the ecological importance of the park and highlights the need for continued conservation efforts.

The Butterfly Conservation Meet is a step towards elevating awareness of the importance of butterfly conservation in Kaziranga. By spotlighting the region’s rich species diversity, the event encourages further research, monitoring, and habitat protection initiatives, ensuring that butterflies become a key component of Kaziranga’s conservation efforts, alongside its iconic “Big Five” – the Bengal tiger, Indian rhinoceros, Asian elephant, wild water buffalo, and swamp deer.

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