Kerala may soon have a butterfly sanctuary

A congregation of mixed Danaine butterfly species in Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary. | Photo Credit: TH

Kerala hopes to dedicate a wildlife sanctuary to butterflies.

The State Board for Wildlife, which is likely to meet this week, would consider a proposal from the State Forest Department to rename the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary as Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary. If approved, this would be the first sanctuary dedicated to the winged insects.

The State has a sanctuary dedicated to Pea Fowl, the Choolannur Pea Fowl Sanctuary in Palakkad, and one for Neelakurinji, the Kurinjimala Sanctuary. Thettekad and Mangalavanam are the other two bird sanctuaries of the State.

The natural environment of the Aralam sanctuary sets the stage for the annual mass migration of the Common Albatross butterflies.

The migration of butterflies, which begins around the last week of December, continues up to February.

Hundreds of butterflies migrate from the higher reaches of the sanctuary to the plains, following streams and rivers. The migration typically begins around 10 a.m. and continus till 3 p.m. on all days during the period.

The highest concentration of butterflies was recorded this year at Ramachithodu, emanating from Ramachifalls, with over 5,000 Common Albatross butterflies counted within a five-minute span, said Muhamed Jafer Palot, a wildlife expert of the Zoological Survey of India.

Butterfly enthusiasts have been tracking the mass migration of the species for the last 25 years. Volunteers located at strategic vantage points count the butterflies. It’s estimated that around four lakh butterflies have thus hit the migration route this year, he said.

Besides the Albatross species, the migration of mixed Danaine species has also been recorded from the sanctuary, according to the Forest department.

Surveys had earlier recorded the presence of 81% of butterflies found in the State in the sanctuary. Of the 327 species of butterflies recorded in Kerala, 266 species have been documented within 55 sq km of the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary. Among them, 27 species are endemic to the Western Ghats with six species listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, according to a document prepared by the department.

The department hopes to recognise the exceptional butterfly diversity and the unique Albatross migration event by renaming the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary as Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary. The renaming would also honour the efforts to protect the unique butterfly species and habitats apart from promoting butterfly-based niche ecotourism activities that would also benefit the local communities, according to the document.

Published - June 16, 2025 07:48 pm IST