The Research Wing of the Uttarakhand Forest Department has inaugurated the state’s first Butterfly Gallery at the Nature Education Centre in Jolly Grant, Dehradun.
This newly established gallery offers a captivating visual experience through high-resolution images of butterflies found across Uttarakhand, aiming to draw attention to their beauty and ecological significance. Designed as both an educational and awareness platform, the gallery underscores the crucial role butterflies play in pollination, food chains, and maintaining the health of ecosystems.
Sanjiv Chaturvedi, Chief Conservator of Forests (Research), stated that the Butterfly Gallery is an initiative to highlight the state’s remarkable butterfly diversity and to foster greater public appreciation and awareness regarding the importance of conserving these species.
Uttarakhand is home to nearly 500 species of butterflies, and the gallery currently features 105 species belonging to five major butterfly families: Papilionidae, Hesperidae, Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, and Pieridae.
Among the notable species on display are the Common Peacock, known for its iridescent blue-green hues and designated as the state butterfly of Uttarakhand; the Indian Oakleaf, which displays remarkable camouflage by resembling a dry oak leaf when its wings are closed; the Spangle, a glossy black swallowtail; the Common Rose, identified by its red body and black wings; and the Indian Red Admiral, a hardy butterfly native to high-altitude areas, recognised for its striking red and black coloration. In addition to photographic displays, the gallery provides informative exhibits on host plants vital to various butterfly species.
For example, the Astor tree serves as a host for the Common Castor butterfly, while plants from the Lamiceae family support the Lemon butterfly. Visitors can also view preserved butterfly specimens that showcase the intricate wing patterns, color variations, and structural differences among species.
The gallery delves into butterfly behavior by illustrating mud-puddling, a process where butterflies gather on moist soil to extract essential nutrients necessary for survival and reproduction. The life cycle of butterflies is also displayed, explaining the transformation from egg to caterpillar, then pupa, and finally to an adult butterfly.
One of the standout features of the gallery is an illustrated map and detailed information on the migration of Monarch butterflies, depicting their incredible 4,800-kilometer journey across generations—one of nature’s most extraordinary migratory phenomena.
Adding a cultural touch, the gallery includes poetic tributes to butterflies, featuring works by celebrated poets such as Rabindranath Tagore and Robert Frost.
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