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Rare Southern Birdwing Butterfly Discovered in Telangana
27 Jun
Summary
- Southern Birdwing, India's large butterfly, sighted in Telangana's Amrabad Tiger Reserve.
- This marks the first documented appearance of the butterfly in Telangana.
- The sighting highlights the reserve's ecological value for conservation.
The Amrabad Tiger Reserve in Telangana has recorded a rare and significant sighting: the Southern Birdwing butterfly. This discovery marks the first documented instance of this species within Telangana, expanding our understanding of its distribution. Primarily known from the Western Ghats, the Southern Birdwing's presence in Amrabad highlights the reserve's critical role in biodiversity conservation.
Nilesh, a forest section officer, and wildlife biologist Dr. Ravikant made the observation, earning congratulations from Dr. Sunil S Hiremath, the field director. This finding is expected to invigorate future scientific research and conservation strategies within the region, emphasizing the reserve's ecological significance.
Also referred to as the Sahyadri Birdwing, this large swallowtail species boasts a wingspan of 140-190 mm, making it one of India's largest butterflies and the state butterfly of Karnataka. Its survival hinges on the availability of forest habitats and specific larval host plants, Aristolochia species. Habitat disturbance poses a significant threat to its populations.
