190 species if butterflies found in ‘Butterfly count season -8’
190 species if butterflies found in ‘Butterfly count season -8’
B.D.Kasniyal
Pithoragarh, May 10
A total of 190 species of butterflies out of total 230 species found in Himalayan region including, ‘Himalayan golden birdwing’ the biggest size butterfly in Uttarakhand were witnessed in ‘Butterfly count season -8’ which concluded recently in Pithoragarh, according to Jagdish Bhatt, Director of ‘Wings Foundation’, the organisation of butterfly lovers, which undertook the counting with the help of Pithoragarh forest department.
“Due to unseasonal rains in the region, the activities of butterflies remain restricted as their feathers get weighted due to rains as well as due to flowing of flower nectar due to rains, the butterflies get short of food,” said Jagdish Bhatt.
According to the information given by ‘Wings Foundation’ a total of 37 butterfly lovers remained active in field to count different species of butterflies. “We also took sessions in local schools to make the students aware of protection of butterflies in their surroundings,” said Bhatt.
Pithoragarh District Forest Officer (DFO) Ashutosh Singh, while concluding the counting session said that the presence of butterflies around us indicated healthy ecology. “Our students will have to come forward to protect every symbol of healthy ecology around us, ” he said.
