On the trail of butterflies at tiger habitat

Conservation job

Butterflies the nature lovers delight is now a topic of study for its conservation.

Attivili Sumana a researcher from Indian Intitute of Science (IISc), Bangalore is studying on the topic- Butterflies; morphological traits and input of invasive plant lantana camara on butterflies’.

A native of Andhra Pradesh, Sumana has MSc in environmental studies from Teri University to her credit.

Sumana is now at Biligiriranganatha Swamy Tiger (BRT) reserve here for the past two months. She had been in the forest here previous year too at the corresponding period. According to year, she takes to forests across the nation in different seasons to gather information for her study.

Sumana who has found help in the branch of Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment (ATREE) here, is accompanied by Kethegowda the local guide.

Sumana is trekking forest route in search of butterflies and sometimes in jeep.The tiger habitat alone houses over 150 species of butterlies among the total 300 found in the State. India accounts for over 1,800 of the world’s 17,500, according to Sumana.

Butterflies in different colours akin to painting, make for an interesting watch, says Sumana with a tinge of excitement. The widely growing lantana here is also a cause of concern. The very species of flowery shrub is  the reason for the death of butterflies.

It also makes sucking nectar difficult for them. Sumana wants to go deep into the types of plants and shrubs proving fatal for butterflies.

India is home to six butterfly parks and Bannerghatta National Park boasts of similar facility. BNHS institution in Mumbai alone has a collection of 25,000 species of butterflies.

Explainining about the features of butterflies, Sumana said they are 200 times faster than  human in sensing smell.