Slate Awlet butterfly found in Manipur

Special Correspondent

IMPHAL,April 29: An elusive butterfly was found and photographed near Kwatha village under Yangoupokpi wildlife sanctuary by a joint exploration team of wildlife photographer from Assam and PFA Manipur.

People of Animal, Manipur Maging Trustee L.Biswajeet Meitei said that wildlife scientist claimed the photograph will be the first photo of the species taken from India.

The butterfly is known as Slate Awlet (bibasis mahintha) and was photographed by one Basabjit Chakraborty, a wildlife photographer from Assam.

Dr. Krushmegh Kunte, a butterfly scientist from NCBS Bangalore said that “Basab’s beautiful images of the Slate Awlet must be the first images of this species from India, and this may very well be the first record of the species from Manipur in decades.

The species was collected in Manipur nearly a hundred years ago by Lt. Col. H. C. Tytler, when it did not appear to be rare.

The species has been collected recently in Thailand, but the new Manipur record is quite special for India.

P N Prasad, CWW of Manipur conveyed his massage regarding the finding.

“I am very happy to congratulate PFA and the photographer from Assam for finding a rare butterfly which was believed to be extinct/elusive. The rare butterfly was photographed in Yangoupokpi Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary. There is need for many such studies to find out other rare flora and fau. I congratulate the team for this finding.” he said.