Thursday, October 31, 2013

Pictorial guide on insects released for Kalakkad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

The Kalakkad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) , which is the natural habitat for rare species of insect, now has its population of butterflies and moths documented for the first time. 

A comprehensive pictorial guide on these insects is available for the benefit of visitors, adding to the data that already exists on the birds and animals found in the reserve. 

Retired biology teacher Geetha Iyer helped bring out the guide, replete with striking photographs of butterflies and moths she spotted around Thalaiyanai near Kalakkad, Sengaltheri, Nambi Temple, Maanjolai, Kuthiraivetti, Upper Gothaiyaar, Kannikatti and Kodamaadi. 

“I could see (butterflies and moths) right from the Tiny Green Blue (a tiny butterfly with a wingspan of 12 mm) to the Southern Bird Wing (having a wingspan of 190 mm) during my stay inside this sanctuary. Much more needs to be explored and documented,” Dr. Geetha says. 

The giant Atlas moth (with a wingspan of 210 mm) is also a denizen of the reserve, she points out. 

Though the butterflies and moths face no serious threat from predatory creatures, their habitat is at risk, she warns. 

“Several small species of animals and plants help create habitats in forests and maintain them. Many of them are unknown to humans,” Dr. Geetha observes. 

“This (documenting butterflies and moths) is one step towards the goal of holistic conservation of the sanctuary,” said Field Director (in-charge), KMTR, Rakesh Dogra, while releasing the guide in the presence of C. Gurusamy, Deputy Director, KMTR’s Mundanthurai Division and K. Sekar, Deputy Director, KMTR’s Kalakkad Division. 


‘Though the butterflies and moths face no serious threat from predatory creatures, their habitat is at risk’ 

‘Small species of animals and plants help create habitats in forests and maintain them’ 

Original Story

No comments:

Post a Comment