The Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra recently captured the first-ever photograph of the 'peacock royal' butterfly, also known as the Tajuria cippus.
The reserve's deputy director, Mandar Pingle, stated that four to five specimens of the Tajuria cippus were spotted on a ficus species tree at Mama Tower, located at an elevation of 438 meters above sea level, at 4 pm on May 23.
"The butterfly was observed during camera installation work and not amid a butterfly survey. This observation marks the first recorded occurrence of this species in PTR," he added.
Deputy Director of Pench Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra), Prabhu Nath Shukla, told PTI that this is the first documented record of Tajuria cippus in PTR. He added that it had never been seen in butterfly surveys conducted earlier.
"The sighting suggests that the Pench Tiger Reserve's diverse flora supports this species. It highlights the reserve's role in conserving regional biodiversity and underscores the need for continued biological surveys. The sighting during a non-focused survey activity suggests Tajuria cippus might be more common in the area than previously thought," Pingle said.
The presence of multiple specimens indicates that the Pench Tiger Reserve might support a stable population of Tajuria cippus, expanding its known range within Maharashtra.
According to officials, Tajuria cippus's habitat in India is diverse and widespread. It is found in Greater Mumbai, West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. In Arunachal Pradesh, it has been recorded at elevations of 400 to 500 m and 500 to 2200 m in the Indian Himalayan Region and northeast region in dense forests.
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