Second Edition Of ‘Butterfly And Biodiversity Trail’ Marks a Grand Success at Dehing Patkai
In a captivating display of nature’s splendors, the ‘Butterfly and Biodiversity Trail’s second iteration wrapped up with great enthusiasm and participation. This unique event, spanning across a beautiful weekend, drew in a diverse group of 32 nature aficionados from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. The chosen venues for this immersive experience were the verdant locales of Soraipung in Dehing Patkai National Park, coupled with the pristine Lakhipather forest reserve, nestled within the Tinsukia district’s Digboi Forest Division.
Under the thoughtful organization by the Wings of Nature Conservation Society, in partnership with Bagpackgo Adventures and Dehing Patkai Krishna Dorik Homestay, the trail aimed at fostering awareness and cultivating an ethos of sustainable eco-tourism anchored around the conservation of butterflies and the broader spectrum of biodiversity. The Assam Forest Department, along with Dehing Patkai National Park and several notable eco-conscious organizations such as Northeast Birding Tours and Green Buds Society, played a vital role in co-powering this green initiative.
The event opened with a flourish at Soraipung, recording an astonishing discovery of 153 butterfly species, amongst which were 12 rare finds alongside five species presently earmarked for further identification. Participants were treated to sightings of exemplary specimens like the elusive brown hat, the vibrant orange albatross, and the majestic golden birdwing, to name a few.
Renowned personalities like Roshan Upadhaya, known affectionately as the Butterfly Man of Arunachal Pradesh; Devajit Moran, an ardent environmentalist with a focus on wildlife rescue; and Madhab Gogoi, a distinguished birding guide hailing from Merbil, graced the event. Their presence added a layer of expertise and passion, greatly enriching the participant’s experience and understanding of the region’s ecological tapestry.
This edition of the trail wasn’t just a journey through the lush greenery but also an educational venture aiming to inspire and mold a sustainable tourism model that supports conservation while enriching the lives of local forest communities and young nature enthusiasts. The event showcased not only the kaleidoscopic variety of butterflies but also allowed participants to observe a plethora of bird species like the sultan tit and long-tailed broadbill and even sight elephants and hoolock gibbons amidst the forests.
Adding to the mystique were the diverse tropical rainforest species including a variety of trees like hollong and nahor and an impressive array of 19 different orchid varieties, illuminating the rich biodiversity housed within these forests.
In closing, the event’s success was celebrated and commendations were extended towards TC Ranjith Ram, the divisional forest officer of the Digboi Forest Division, and Utpal Borah, the forest range officer of the Soraipung Forest Range Office. Their unwavering support and collaboration were pivotal in weaving together this remarkable initiative, aimed at highlighting and preserving the area’s natural beauty and ecological importance.
As curtains fell on the second ‘Butterfly and Biodiversity Trail,’ it left behind trails of inspiration, knowledge, and a renewed commitment towards safeguarding our planet’s invaluable biodiversity. The event underscored the symbiotic relationship humans share with nature and ignited discussions on furthering the cause of conservation through sustainable practices.
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