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Susan
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Welcome to IWC chat on "Butterflies".
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Susan
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The Indian Subcontinent is home to nearly 1,977 species of butterflies; Sikkim with around 600 species and Western Ghats with 300 species are by far the richest regions for butterfly diversity.
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Jayant
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Hi
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Susan
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Hi Jayant , how is the butterfly garden in Pune school coming along?
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Jayant
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Not been there in the recent past, as I am mostly in Calcutta . This 1977 figure is very intresting.
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Susan
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Is the number of species more or less? I am sure it is a disputed figure.
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amrita
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hi
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Susan, Jayant
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Hi, amrita
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Jayant
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But now as the School has commited to the project by putting it up as an activity in their school calender, I am quite assured of its success
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Susan
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Jayant, how are the children liking the project. Do they have any activity around the b.garden?
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Jayant
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The b.Garden is a new dimension for the children. This coming year we plan to have each child take up a plant and observe it for a period on two months
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amrita
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i attended a small slide show on butterlies and i was told that butterflies migrate as far as rom europe to India, is it true
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Jayant
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Butterflies do migrate! But I am afraid not from Europe to India, like birds.
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Jayant
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In India we have north south migration of butterflies, but it has not been well studied
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harsha
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Hi Everyone!
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Jayant
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Hi harsha
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amrita
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what is the max age a butterfly survives
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Susan
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My impression is-a few days only
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Jayant
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depends on the species, 10 to 15 days
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harsha
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Blue tigers & crows are already started to migrate in south India
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Jayant
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yes I have heard of the migration this season, have you seen them. Its a fascinating sight
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harsha
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yes ,from last week! from east to west
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Jayant
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Could you see dark Blue tigers and Double branded Crows?
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harsha
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Yes! but did see striped tiger & some one mentioned abt Jezebel????
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Jayant
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Jezebel? was it in numbers or just a stray
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harsha
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no idea !
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Susan
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What flowers attract most buterflies? Does the migration have something to do with flowering trees?
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Jayant
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Nectar bearing flowers like Lantana
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Jayant
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The migration is to and from the hills
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harsha
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yes east cost to western ghats
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Susan
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Conservationists estimate as many as 50,000 butterfly specimens a month are smuggled out of India, forming a large part of an illegal trade worth £20m every year.
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Susan
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Most smuggling happens in Sikkim.
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amrita
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I remember seeing trapping of butterlies in Namdapha national park and in Shillong
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Jayant
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There are some rare butterflies likes the Bhutan glory, Keiser-i-hind which are saught after
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harsha
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smuggled butterflies are northeast specimens
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Jayant
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Last year some Russians were caught in Sikkim
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Jayant
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Brazil has done quite well in butterfly farming
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harsha
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if any one intersted send a mail to this interactive group ButterflyIndia@yahoogroups.com
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Susan
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Welcome s.r goduka
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s.r.goduka
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how many museums are there in india exclusively for butterflies
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Jayant
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The best thing about butterflies is that they are all over, They are seen even in midist of crowded cities
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Jayant
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I guess none ( exclusive)
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s.r.goduka
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ohh
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Jayant
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But ZSI in Calcutta & BNHS in Mumbai have a decent collection
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s.r.goduka
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I know of one in Assam at least
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Jayant
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Tell us more about it.
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s.r.goduka
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It's maintained by Numaligarh refinery, I guess . Nnear golaghat in Upper Assam
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harsha
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Butterfly park is coming up at Banergatta National Park ,Bangalore
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Jayant
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Is it open to general public?
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Susan
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Isaac Kehimkar ( BNHS) was mentioning that WPI Act prohibits India having a butterfly enclosure like they have in Singapore
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Jayant
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Yes but one can take a special permission and have enclosed butterflies
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Jayant
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In Calcutta, the Science city has a small enclosure for butterflies, it is quite well maintained
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s.r.goduka
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ok
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Jayant
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But I am afraid collections are illegal
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s.r.goduka
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it seems we still need concrete info about this aspect, I mean butterfly museums
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Jayant
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By museums you mean a collection of dead specimens?
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s.r.goduka
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no no, live
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Jayant
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Then its a park
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s.r.goduka
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Yes we can call like that . I referred as 'museum' b coz the assam one has named it so.
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Susan
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Hi Sandeep
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sandeep
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Hi all
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Jayant
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Hi sandeep how is your butterfly photography going?
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s.r.goduka
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I have not seen any documentary on butterflies of India, is there any ?
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Jayant
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Dr Susan That's for you
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Susan
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I have seen a documentary for kids on butterflies, in the Delhi Vatavaran Festival. I will get the details for you.
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Susan
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I hear that the Garden of Five Senses coming up near Kutub Minar in Delhi will have a butterfly garden
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s.r.goduka
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this is a great news. thanks
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Jayant
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each city should have at least one b. park
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sandeep
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Jayant i havent yet photographed a butterfly.. but think i should photograph them later..
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harsha
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good news"Hazaradous mercury waste sent back from India" will be mailing it on groups!!!!
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Susan
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Shall we have the next topic on environ/pollution/?
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Jayant
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Why not.
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Susan
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Jayant, give some tips on butterfly photography.
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Susan
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There is a beautiful poster by Jayant in our free downloads
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Jayant
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Do we really need to conserve butterflies?
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Jayant
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Butterflies are cold blooded creatures, hence they need to wait for the sun to warm them up
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Jayant
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This is called basking. Generally they allow a close approach during basking, hence a good time for photographing.
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Susan
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That is a good tip, Jayant
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sandeep
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Jayant have you tried freezing ?
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sandeep
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Jayant I have heard that by cooling butterflies we can make them still for some time is it true..
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Jayant
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Cooling butterflies is Unethical!!!!! I do not recommend that at all
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Jayant
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Another way is to locate a bush/ plant with nectar bearing flowers and be prepared for a lot of action
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harsha
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mud-puddling time is really good
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Jayant
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Yes , but not very nice on your back
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Susan
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Except Indians the rest of the world seem to value them a lot. 20million pounds worth of trade.
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harsha
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Indian are good!! if they start collecting them like others our wildlife will be gone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
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Susan
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You said it Harsha. But we must be aware enough not to let others collect them.
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harsha
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ie why all Indian wildlife are Protected!
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harsha
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hey Jayant have ever seen "Southern Bird wing"
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Jayant
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No I have not seen it. This May I am gioing to Dandeli in search of it. Birdwing are also a great choice of collectors!
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Jayant
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Butterflies are gardeners in nature, by conserving them in turn we are conserving a gamut of plants and protecting them
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s.r.goduka
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I would like to know about the no. of endangered butterflies
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harsha
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WPA has listed around 450 of them as protected
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sandeep
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Does butterflies have any other food than nectar.. is there any food with which we can feed them and attract them..
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Jayant
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Some like the Barron are attracted to rotting fruits
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Jayant
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Some like the nawabs to rotting animals
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sandeep
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http://thenaturestore.com/zz161.htm here I saw something called butterfly feeder
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harsha
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I have planned for no. of trips to western ghats , let me know I may join. Dandeli u get King Cobras
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Jayant
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Thats great harsha you amy mail me at j_deshpande@yahoo.com
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Jayant
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'King' will be a bonus !
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harsha
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I saw no. of them in Bhadra Tiger Reserve
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Susan
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For s. r. goduka-the documentary on butterflies is 'Chasing Butterflies' by Gurmeet Sapal 24 min Hindi
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s.r.goduka
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thanks alot
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Jayant
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Bye folks I will call it a day. Nice to chat with you all.
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Susan
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Thanks, Jayant and all the others. See you next month same time!
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