The three-day butterfly study camp-cum-survey conducted in the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary here has once again highlighted its importance as a butterfly migration area.
The 15th butterfly camp-cum-survey that concluded on January 11 was held under the joint aegis of the Malabar Natural History Society and the Forest and Wildlife Department.
The survey covered nine areas in the sanctuary – Valayamchal, Pookkund, Narikkadav, Uruppukunnu, Kurukkathode, Kariyamkap, Chavachi, Meenmutti, Paripputhode. As many as 124 butterfly watchers from the State and outside attended the camp. Apart from observation of the migration of Albatross butterflies belonging to the Pieridae family, classes were held on butterfly diversity. During the survey over the past 14 years, 252 butterfly species have been cited in the sanctuary.
Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary Warden K. Jyothi Prakash said that the State had no protected forest area that had such a large number of butterfly species. The butterfly diversity underlines the importance of the biodiversity of the sanctuary, he said.
Purple Spotted Flitter was spotted for the first time in the sanctuary during the survey. The participants found mud-puddling sites for butterflies on the banks of Cheenkannipuzha and Uruttipuzha, rivers in the area. The mud-puddling sites have to be protected, the participants said. Over two lakh butterflies were spotted in the congregations in the area over the past two months. During the latest survey, a total 139 butterflies were spotted.
