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Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
When mountains shed their jewels
One crisp Dec morning in 2000, during a routine visit to the Aralam forests, butterfly experts Jaffer Palot and V C Balakrishnan witnessed a breathtaking sight—an endless stream of Common Albatross butterflies (Appias albina) gliding along the forest clearing carved by Cheenkanni River, in shimmering white and yellow like drifting petals. Little did they know the fleeting spectacle would spark a 25-year journey of observation and documentation by butterfly enthusiasts and researchers, revealing Aralam's extraordinary butterfly diversity. What began as a moment of wonder evolved into a sustained scientific effort under the Malabar Natural History Society (MNHS), which has conducted annual butterfly surveys for the past 25 years. This work helped establish Aralam as Kerala's butterfly capital, now set to be renamed Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary—India's first official butterfly sanctuary. The 55 sq. km. Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary established in 1984 and situated in the valley of Brahmagiri mountain ranges is the prime butterfly habitat of Kerala for good reason. Of the 327 species of butterflies found in Kerala, a staggering 266 speciesover 82%have been recorded here. Among them are 27 species endemic to the Western Ghats and six listed under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. Endemic species include the Travancore Evening Brown, Sahyadri Rosy Oak Blue, Malabar Rose, Malabar Banded Swallowtail, Malabar Banded Peacock, Shiva Sunbeam, Nilgiri Grass Yellow, Sahyadri Silver Royal, Kodagu Forest Hopper, Southern Spotted Ace, Nilgiri Plain Ace, Sahyadri Orange Ace, Sahyadri Banded Ace, and Sahyadri Albatross. Other significant species recorded are the Purple Spotted Flitter, Maculate Lancer, Black Angle, White-tipped Line Blue, Orchid Tit, Malabar Flash, Blue Nawab and Blue-banded Duffer. 'The range of forest habitats—from moist deciduous to semi-evergreen, evergreen, and shola grasslands— allows Aralam to support this incredible diversity,' says Jafer Palot, scientist with the Zoological Survey of India and MNHS member. He explains that Aralam's unique climate and forest gradient, from sea level to 1600 metres, supports diverse plant life, creating an ideal butterfly habitat. 'Almost all forest types found in the state are present within the sanctuary,' he adds. The most awe-inspiring event at Aralam is the annual butterfly migration. Each year from Dec to Feb, the sanctuary bursts with life as millions of exquisite butterflies, predominantly the Common Albatross, undertake an altitudinal migration, gliding downhill from the upper reaches of the forest. The phenomenon typically begins around 9.30am and lasts until about 2pm. For the indigenous communities living around Aralam, the migration is not just biological—it's cultural. Local tribal lore likens the migration to women heading to a wedding, dressed in shimmering white, gliding gracefully through the canopy corridor. Aralam is also a key site for the annual Danaine butterfly migration to the Western Ghats from the Eastern Ghats and southern plains. During the 2013 survey, more than four lakh Danaine butterflies were recorded roosting near Pothanplavu. 'Though we've tracked the migration since 2001, many unknowns remain, including where these congregations are headed,' says Palot. Earlier, it was assumed the butterflies came from Coorg via Kottiyoor and moved to Wayanad en route to the Nilgiris. 'Now we know it's an altitudinal migration from higher reaches above Meenmutti Falls. Still, we don't know where they ultimately go, as Albatross butterflies are forest species and rarely leave forested areas.' These butterflies likely originate from altitudes above Meenmutti Falls, where their host plant Drypetes—locally called Asthi maram—grows abundantly. As the population grows and nectar becomes scarce, a mass dispersal down the slopes is triggered. 'In a five-minute count this Jan, we recorded over 12,000 butterflies,' says Palot. 'That translates to three to four lakh butterflies a day, and crores over the entire season.' The Cheenkanni River and its streams play a critical role in this migration. The mineral-rich riverbanks allow butterflies to supplement their diet with essential nutrients like sodium, nitrogen, and amino acids—vital for flight and reproduction. 'Maintaining the riverbank's integrity is crucial,' Palot says, warning that illegal sand mining threatens these habitats. Aralam wildlife sanctuary warden G Pradeep says the butterfly diversity is a testament to its ecosystem integrity, as butterflies are indicator species and help with pollination. 'Renaming the area as a butterfly sanctuary will allow us to implement habitat management like removing invasive species and promoting biodiversity-friendly vegetation. Many larval host plants like Mullilam (Zanthoxylum rhetsa) are disappearing from non-forest areas,' he adds. Environmentalists stress that addressing illegal sand mining along the Cheenkanni River is vital, as it threatens the sanctuary's habitat and affects mud-puddling behavior of butterflies during migration. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
The Wire
02-07-2025
- Science
- The Wire
Aralam in Kerala to Be India's First Butterfly Sanctuary
Aathira Perinchery 2 minutes ago The Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary in north Kerala will soon be called Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary, a celebration of its importance as a habitat for migrating butterflies in the Western Ghats. On June 18, the Kerala State Wildlife Board decided to rename Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary as Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary. While there are many wildlife sanctuaries and national parks that host a huge diversity of butterfly species, what stands out about Aralam is the sheer numbers of some butterfly species that pass through the sanctuary as part of their seasonal or annual migration routes. Migrating masses One of them is the common albatross, a butterfly that dons pale cream-yellow wings. The sight of just one common albatross may make an on-looker wonder what's special about it: it is rather plain and nondescript. But these butterflies migrate, en masse, from the high altitude hills of Aralam (nearly 1,600 meters Above Sea Level) to its plains (around 60 metres ASL) and onto the banks of the Cheenkanni river, between December and February. And this is when they emerge in hundreds, thousands and lakhs. Common albatrosses (as well as some other species) congregate in these large numbers on stream and river banks, and 'mudpuddle': a phenomenon where butterflies, mostly males, rest on wet soil and slurp up salts and minerals such as sodium from the earth. The common albatross butterfly. Photo: David Raju. In the year 2000, a team of naturalists under the aegis of the Malabar Natural History Society (MNHS) began counting these butterflies and studying their migratory patterns by conducting yearly surveys in collaboration with forest staff and officials of the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary. The survey this year (which marked 25 years of this exercise) conducted on two days in mid January involved participants counting butterflies from vantage points in bursts of five minute-periods, what are called 'point counts'. These counts estimated between three to four lakh albatrosses passing through Aralam in one day, said Muahmed Jafer Palot, a scientist with the Zoological Survey of India who has been associated with the MNHS in the past. 'We don't know where they are going, that's one of the many aspects biologists need to do research on,' Palot said. Unfortunately the banks of the Cheenkanni river are also witness to sand mining – an unregulated activity that threatens the butterflies' mudpuddling sites here, he added. Apart from butterflies such as albatrosses that mudpuddle, there are others that just hang out together or 'roost' — in lakhs for a few days every year, as they migrate through Aralam. Butterfly species belonging to a subfamily called Danainae - also called danaids or milkweed butterflies - engage in this phenomenon. The most well-known milkweed butterfly roosts are of the monarch butterfly in the United States. In India, and Aralam specifically, butterfly species such as blue tigers (a species named for its blue and black striped wing patterns), and common and striped tigers (which display striking orange and black stripes) roost together in lakhs as they migrate between October and November, Palot told The Wire. 'It's hard to believe it but sometimes small tree branches and stalks even break under their weight,' Palot said. In 2012, survey teams counted more than four lakh danaids in Aralam at one time, thousands dangling on each tree. 'A celebration of butterflies' David V. Raju, a naturalist and avid photographer, told The Wire that he first attended the butterfly migration survey in Aralam 20 years ago, and has also participated in many of these annual events in the years that followed. 'What's happening in Aralam is nothing short of a celebration of butterflies. Everyone who takes part is deeply interested and passionate about these winged jewels. Even if you're not a butterfly enthusiast at first, attending the butterfly survey will almost certainly change that. And if you're lucky enough to witness the breathtaking migration or congregation, you'll find yourself falling in love with them forever,' he added. 'And if you're lucky enough to witness the breathtaking migration or congregation, you'll find yourself falling in love with them forever'. Photo: David Raju. Raju believes that the tag of a 'butterfly sanctuary' will make a difference to the butterflies, the sanctuary, and the people who live near it in several ways. 'Firstly, it will give Aralam much wider visibility, it truly deserves to be known by more people,' Raju told The Wire. 'Secondly, the butterfly migration is a spectacular natural event, a true wildlife phenomenon that should be celebrated and shared with a broader audience.' And third, the increased attention that the butterflies bring can benefit local communities, according to Raju. 'As more people visit, locals can engage in conservation efforts while also gaining financial support through eco-tourism and related activities,' he added. Plans are on to declare three panchayats in the vicinity as 'butterfly villages' and develop eco-development committees comprising local communities so that they can take visitors on butterfly walks that can increase awareness about these winged wonders while at the same time benefiting financially by offering these services to visitors, Palot said. A 'butterfly festival' for children is also in the works to inculcate interest in young minds, he added. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
