Times of India, 14/1/2014
KANNUR: Butterfly enthusiasts have reason to cheer. The butterfly migration camp conducted at the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary from January 10 to 12 spotted two species of butterflies - Cornelian and Blue Nawab - hitherto undetected in Aralam.
"This is an important development. Till date, we have spotted nearly 242 varieties of butterflies here in our camps over the last 13 years, compared to 125 in Silent Valley. More species have started coming to this place," said researcher and environmentalist V C Balakrishnan, who took part in the three-day-long camp.
"This underscores the importance of conserving the place as an important biodiversity spot where butterflies and other winged creatures flock together in lakhs."
Though the camp, which is into its 13th edition, is basically organised to study the migration pattern of the butterfly species Common Albatross through Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, it helps butterfly enthusiasts learn about their behavioural patterns, migration and breeding.
Cornelian butterfly caterpillars were found inside the fruit of sapindus plant, a shrub found in the area, and also in the connarus plant; while the Blue Nawab caterpillars were found on Bauhinia phoenicea (Vallimandaram), that are abundant in Aralam. Since they breed only in a conducive environment, it is of paramount importance to preserve the ecosystem here, he said.
This year, nearly 150 species of butterflies were spotted and the population of Common Albatross was very high, said Aralam assistant wildlife warden V Madhusoodhanan.
During peak hours almost 1,500 butterflies were spotted passing through a spot in one minute. Though they are yet to find out where the winged creatures come from, the researchers said this is an altitudinal migration from the top of the Western Ghats to lower altitudes. The butterflies prefer this route because of the ecosystem here, they added.
Nearly 90 enthusiasts found that mud-puddling was very high on the banks of the rivers Cheekannipuzha and Urutipuzha in Aralam. Mud-puddling is when butterflies gather on surfaces like wet soil or dung to obtain nutrients in liquid form. This congregation occurs because these river banks are the storehouse of rare minerals that the butterflies need.
This year, over one lakh butterflies were spotted in the congregation over a two-month period, which underscores the importance of preserving this ecosystem.
KANNUR: Butterfly enthusiasts have reason to cheer. The butterfly migration camp conducted at the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary from January 10 to 12 spotted two species of butterflies - Cornelian and Blue Nawab - hitherto undetected in Aralam.
"This is an important development. Till date, we have spotted nearly 242 varieties of butterflies here in our camps over the last 13 years, compared to 125 in Silent Valley. More species have started coming to this place," said researcher and environmentalist V C Balakrishnan, who took part in the three-day-long camp.
"This underscores the importance of conserving the place as an important biodiversity spot where butterflies and other winged creatures flock together in lakhs."
Though the camp, which is into its 13th edition, is basically organised to study the migration pattern of the butterfly species Common Albatross through Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, it helps butterfly enthusiasts learn about their behavioural patterns, migration and breeding.
Cornelian butterfly caterpillars were found inside the fruit of sapindus plant, a shrub found in the area, and also in the connarus plant; while the Blue Nawab caterpillars were found on Bauhinia phoenicea (Vallimandaram), that are abundant in Aralam. Since they breed only in a conducive environment, it is of paramount importance to preserve the ecosystem here, he said.
This year, nearly 150 species of butterflies were spotted and the population of Common Albatross was very high, said Aralam assistant wildlife warden V Madhusoodhanan.
During peak hours almost 1,500 butterflies were spotted passing through a spot in one minute. Though they are yet to find out where the winged creatures come from, the researchers said this is an altitudinal migration from the top of the Western Ghats to lower altitudes. The butterflies prefer this route because of the ecosystem here, they added.
Nearly 90 enthusiasts found that mud-puddling was very high on the banks of the rivers Cheekannipuzha and Urutipuzha in Aralam. Mud-puddling is when butterflies gather on surfaces like wet soil or dung to obtain nutrients in liquid form. This congregation occurs because these river banks are the storehouse of rare minerals that the butterflies need.
This year, over one lakh butterflies were spotted in the congregation over a two-month period, which underscores the importance of preserving this ecosystem.
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