The state Forest Department officials in Nagarahole Tiger Reserve (NTR) is undertaking a butterfly census and preparing the checklist. The Tiger reserve may have its own flagship butterfly soon. This initiative started when the central government has to decide on ‘National Butterfly’. The state butterfly of Karnataka is ‘the Southern Birdwing (Troides Minos’), largest butterfly endemic to South India, resembling the colors of the Karnataka state flag.

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The department is revising the flora and fauna checklist and has decided to create a butterfly checklist. The census started on October 8, extends to June-July 2021, covering two seasons. One more tiger reserve, Bandipur Tiger Reserve is also undertaking a large herbivore census.  “The first checklist of flora and avifauna was prepared 10 years ago and it is being revised now. A butterfly checklist is being created for the first time. It is out of interest to make the staffers more knowledgeable and to create more awareness in wildlife. A lot of importance is given to large taxa, but there are other species which need attention. Butterflies are very important for pollination and hence it was decided to undertake this study,” said NTR Director, Mahesh Kumar.

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The National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore Butterfly Group, and College of Forestry, Ponnampet is helping NTR for the census.  “If all goes well, then, depending on the information received during the butterfly assessment, the tiger reserve could also have its own flagship butterfly,” Mahesh added. The revised checklist will be divided into eight ranges. Director added there were no much change in flora and avifauna of the reserve in the past 10 years except few shrubs. The assessment will only help in better planning, ascertaining threats, and understanding conservation issues to improve the tiger reserve.

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