Bodoland Releases New Guide to Region's Rare Butterflies

Guwahati: The Bodoland Territorial Council just dropped a new booklet documenting the massive butterfly population hidden within its forests. Officials released the guide to boost eco-tourism and show off the 3,653 square kilometre habitat. It contains a full checklist and high-quality photos of local species.

Experts have already logged 346 different types of butterflies. They suspect the final count could top 400 because the region sits at the meeting point of three major biogeographic zones. These forests host rare finds like the Yellow-crested Spangle, Swinhoe's Flat, and The Witch.

Monsoon season brings a massive show. Thousands of insects flock to the Ultapani Reserve Forest and Raimona National Park to soak up minerals from the wet ground. Naturalists call the Ultapani-Saralpara-Ripu area the “Land of Dancing Butterflies” because of this mud-puddling behavior.

The Bodo community draws inspiration from these gatherings for their traditional Bagurumba dance. Years of work by Bodoland University and the North East Butterfly Meet Network built this guide. The BTC Forest Department is now pushing for habitat protection. They warned, “habitat loss and climate change continue to threaten several endemic species.” Residents must stop illegal collecting and keep the mud-puddling sites safe to ensure these populations survive.