%20(1).png)
Kaziranga National Park, renowned for its one horned rhinoceros, has recently been recognized as India's second largest hub for butterfly diversity, boasting an impressive 446 butterfly species. This places it just behind Namdapha National Park in Arunachal Pradesh.
Discoveries and Research
Dr. Monsoon Jyoti Gogoi has been studying the park since 2007 and his research highlights its rich variety of wildlife. In September, the first ‘Butterfly Conservation Meet-2024’ was organized to discuss the various butterfly species in Kaziranga. The event attracted around 40 butterfly enthusiasts and experts, showcasing a strong commitment to butterfly conservation.
Diverse Species
Kaziranga’s butterfly diversity is particularly notable given its location outside the typically speciesrich Himalayan and Patkai mountain ranges. Some of the remarkable butterfly species found in the park include Burmese Threering, Glassy Cerulean, Dark bordered Hedge Blue, Ferrar’s Cerulean, Great Red vein Lancer, Peacock Oakblue, Yellow-tailed Awlking, Dark-dusted Palm Dart, Clavate Banded Demon, Pale-marked Ace Yellow, and Onyx Long winged Hedge Blue. Researchers also identified 18 butterfly species previously unreport d in India.
Additional Habitats
Apart from Kaziranga National Park, the nearby Panbari Reserve Forest also hosts a variety of butterfly species, further enhancing the region's ecological richness.
Conservation Efforts
Dr. Gogoi has authored a pictorial guidebook documenting all 446 butterfly species found in the park. At the conservation meet, Gaurab Nandi Das from the Czech Republic shared valuable insights on butterfly classification, emphasizing the importance of ongoing conservation efforts in Kaziranga.
Geographical Location
Kaziranga National Park, located in Assam's Golaghat and Nagaon districts, was established as a national park in 1974 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is internationally significant as it houses two-thirds of the world's greater one-horned rhinoceroses and represents the largest undisturbed area of the Brahmaputra Valley floodplains.
Vegetation
The park features a mix of eastern wet alluvial grasslands, semi evergreen forests, and tropical moist deciduous forests, contributing to its rich biodiversity and ecological importance.
About Kaziranga National Park
Established in 1905, Kaziranga National Park spans 430 square kilometers and is renowned for its large population of Indian one-horned rhinoceroses, accounting for about two-thirds of the global population. The park's diverse ecosystems include grasslands and wetlands, making it a popular spot for birdwatching with over 480 bird species. It also hosts significant populations of tigers and elephants. Kaziranga’s unique floodplain ecology supports its rich biodiversity, and its conservation efforts are crucial for wildlife preservation in India.