Kaziranga Emerges India’s Second Butterfly Diversity Hub

Assam’s Kaziranga National Park, famous for its one-horned rhino population, has also earned the distinction of being the second butterfly diversity hub, after Namdapha National Park in Arunachal Pradesh.

Butterfly in Kaziranga Park

• Kaziranga has emerged as the  butterfly diversity hub, boasting 446 species.
• Among the newly recorded species are the Burmese Threering, Glassy Cerulean, Dark-bordered Hedge Blue, Andaman Yellow Banded Flat, Ferrar’s Cerulean, Great Red-vein Lancer, Peacock Oakblue, Single-lined Flash, Yellow-tailed Walking, White Palm Bob, Dark-dusted Palm Dart, Clavate Banded Demon, Pale-marked Ace, Yellow Onyx, Long-winged Hedge Blue, Ace sp, Hill Ace, and Dwarf Banded Demon.

About Kaziranga National Park

• It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Location: Golaghat and Nagoan in the state of Assam 
  • It lies between Brahmaputra River and the Karbi (Mikir) Hills.
• Rivers: Brahmaputra flows along the northern boundary of the park.
  • Numerous Other smaller rivers and streams such as Diphlu River, Mora Diphlu River, and Mora Dhansiri River pass through the National Park.
• Landscape: Sheer forest, tall elephant grass, rugged reeds, marshes, and shallow pools.
• Fauna: Many endangered and threatened species like Rhino, Tiger, Eastern swamp deer, Elephant, Buffalo, Hoolock gibbon, Capped langur, and Gangetic River dolphin
  • It is inhabited by the world’s largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses, as well as many mammals.

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About Butterfly

• They are insects from the order Lepidoptera of phylum Arthropoda which also includes moths.
• Pollinators: Butterflies along with bees play an important role in the pollination of plants and the production of crops.
  • Butterflies transport pollen grains from one place to another.
• Indicator Species: Reflect the quality and changes in environmental conditions as well as aspects of community composition.
  • If the population of butterflies decreases then their predators (wasps, spiders, and birds) lose their major food source. 
• Rich Biodiversity: Their abundance in any area represents the rich biodiversity.

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