Kollam: Three-day butterfly survey in Chinnar wildlife sanctuary

Kollam: The forest department in association with the Travancore nature history society has initiated a three-day butterfly survey in Chinnar wildlife sanctuary in Idukki. The area that also includes rain shadow region is home to over 240 species of butterflies, including the rare Palani bushbrown and Nilgiri tit. The migration of butterflies from Palani plains to the Chinnar area of Western Ghats is a common phenomenon after the south-west monsoon.

The survey is conducted in 24 base camps under Shola national park, Chinnar wildlife sanctuary and Eravipuram national park. Surveys were conducted earlier in Chinnar area during the last two years to spot some 240 species of butterflies.

“The Chinnar wildlife sanctuary is a rare geographical area where thorny forest is found in Kerala. It is also of great importance as it encompasses all sorts of forests found in the Western Ghats. The butterfly survey is being carried out dividing the area into seven blocks by including all types of forests,” Mr P.M. Prabhu, assistant wildlife warden, said.

The wildlife sanctuary located 400 to 2373 metres above sea level has seven survey blocks, including  Mangappara, Olikkudi, Chinnar, Chunkam, Karimutti, Paalappetti and Alampetti. The three-day survey will be conducted by a team of 60 people.

Each block will have a survey team comprising four volunteers, a beat forest officer, two forest watchers, and a trekker.The rare species of butterflies, including Palani bush brown and Nilgiri tit, which is endemic to Chinnar area, were spotted in surveys conducted earlier.