Arunachal Pradesh Wildlife Photographer Spots Rare Butterfly in State

OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: An avid wildlife photographer from Arunachal Pradesh has spotted a rare butterfly for the first time in a district of the state. Kaiser-e-Hind, one of the rarest butterflies in India, was sighted for the first time by Dr. Joram Khopey, who is the deputy director of the state Blood Transfusion Council under the Directorate of Health Services, in the jungles of Mechuka in Shi-Yomi district of the state. Dr. Khopey and his friends spotted the butterfly species on May 22. "The presence of this rare and beautiful butterfly has the potential to attract many butterfly tourists to Shi-Yomi district and Mechuka in particular," Dr. Khopey said. "The median altitude of Mechuka is around 7000 ft above sea level. It is felt that if a proper survey is carried out by experts, many more high-altitude butterflies could be sighted. The vegetation and altitude of Mechuka seem suitable, especially for Bhutan Glory, another beautiful and rare butterfly," he added. Kaiser-e-Hind is much sought after by butterfly lovers and enthusiasts for its beauty and rarity. Moreover, its presence is a sign of rich biodiversity, especially of plants and trees.

The Magnolia species tree is the host plant for Kaiser-e-Hind butterflies. "The butterfly, with its shimmering greens, bright yellows, and delicate blacks, is a treat to the eyes. The green iridescence of the wings has been found to be due to the three-dimensional photonic structure of the scales and is the subject of much research," Dr. Khopey said. Kaiser-e-Hind (Teinopalpus Imperialis), which literally means "Emperor of India", is a rare species of swallowtail butterfly found in small pockets of Nepal, Bhutan, and along the Eastern Himalayas in India, including Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Assam, Sikkim, and Manipur. In these areas, it occurs at medium and higher elevations, from 6000 to 10,000 feet above sea level, in well-covered forest terrains. It is also found in northern Myanmar, northern Vietnam, and the Sichuan Province of China. In Arunachal Pradesh, the Kaiser-e-Hind butterfly has been found till now in Talle Valley and surrounding areas at Ziro in Lower Subansiri district, Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary in West Kameng district, and Luyor Pass area in Siang district.

A proposal was made to name the Kaiser-e-Hind butterfly the state butterfly during the ‘Pakke Declaration’ on Climate Change, Resilient, and Responsive Arunachal Pradesh in 2021. "If proper surveys are made in areas with similar altitude and vegetation, such as in Mishmi Hills, Anjaw district, Upper Subansiri district, Pakke-Kessang district, and Namdapha Wildlife Sanctuary, sightings of this butterfly are highly likely. If sighted in more areas, the species can definitely be named the state butterfly.

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