The area around Ramnagar in Uttarakhand might be known for tigers but Nivi Shrivastava finds it to be a haven for winged creatures also
Did you know that just like bees, butterflies are excellent indicators of environmental changes? Not only do they play a vital role in an ecosystem by pollinating billions of flowers and trees, but they also warn about the climatic changes and rise in temperature of the earth by their lifecycle patterns. According to experts, there are 1,327 identified species in India but due to data deficiency, one cannot put them in the endangered category. In the forests of Ramnagar, adjoining the Jim Corbett Park known for tigers, one can find myriad varieties of butterflies and moths in the Terai West region of Kumaon, Uttarakhand.
On a balmy winter day, I travelled with some butterfly experts to discover the hidden aspects of eco-tourism in this area. Just 250 km away from Delhi by road, it’s convenient to plan a last-minute getaway to explore this offbeat forest region solo or in a group. The best time to visit this quiet town is mid-November to mid-June when the jungle safari is open for the public and the weather is pleasant to explore the forest on foot.
The Ramnagar forest belt, especially the Kyari region, is blessed with a variety of flora and fauna and hence a wide variety of butterflies and birds are found here. As we crossed the semi-arid Khichdi River at Corbett Tiger Reserve to reach our destination, I couldn’t help but notice the monkeys perched on lush green pines and a curious herd of deer crossing our path and guiding us into the dense forests. There are many places to stay inside the forest as well as close to it. The adventure lovers can book luxury tents while those who prefer leisure accommodations can stay at resorts and hotels that are operational in the tourist season. Early morning is the best time to find butterflies in their natural habitat near the Kosi River forest area where many local villagers go to catch fish and some mushroom enthusiasts trek to collect the rare fungi varieties that only grow here. During the nature walk, one can hear the wild calls of birds and see butterflies fluttering over wildflowers. On close inspection, one can even see the various stages of a butterfly’s lifecycle on the trunk of an old tree. Right from the cluster of eggs to metamorphosis into larva, pupa and adult butterfly — the forest fauna nurtures these colourful creatures in every stage of their life.
As for the myriad butterflies, one can spot the Common Mormon, Oak Leaf, Common Mapwing, Plain Tiger, One-Spot Grass, Walnut Blue as well as various types of Hairstreak butterflies like White-Spotted, Wonderful, Dull Green, Brown Gorgon across the forests. Experts have even reported some rare species of Swallowtails, Five Bar Swordtails and Redbreasts in this region.
To highlight the attractions and create awareness about butterflies, a month-long festival for tourists and local children was held recently in Ramnagar. Anil Oraw, regional director (North), the Ministry of Tourism, informed, “People so far know Jim Corbett Park for tigers but the whole Bhabar belt around the National Park is also very unique. We want more people to enjoy the forest area and the Titli Tyar programme was one such initiative to spread awareness about the beautiful butterflies, moths and rare birds.” As part of the awareness for butterflies, Sohail Madan, an ecologist from Bombay Natural History Society, mentioned how chemical poisoning with man-made fertilisers and linear infrastructures (roads and highways, electric power lines, railway lines, canals, pipelines, firebreaks and fences) in cities and towns are hampering the habitat of butterflies. He says, “Habitat loss is the primary reason for the fall of insect population coupled with the use of chemical poison and anthropogenic pressure. To prevent this, we must plant native host plants, stop the use of chemical poisons and raise our voice against linear infrastructure development.”
It is a fact that butterflies need the sun to survive and ecological experts studying their behavioural patterns point out that every specific butterfly sub-species requires a specific temperature to continue its life cycle. Any delay in their annual patterns could be a clear indicator of changes in average temperatures, leading to the inference of climate change. “Although, scientifically inconclusive, a comprehensive study of butterflies may lead us to decipher the subtle evolution of nature and climate around us,” mentioned Saurav Bhattacharya, founder member of Tyar Foundation. His non-profit organisation hosted the Titli Tyar festival centred around butterflies to impact the wildlife tourism industry through tourists and the local community. “Did you know that moths and butterflies are the same species? And that one comes out with the sun and the other in the darkness of the night. All creatures are created equal and were supposed to have an equal share of the environment. With a higher intellect, humans have evolved into supreme beings with the biggest footprint. However,
micro-fauna such as the amazing butterflies have an equally significant role to play in the scheme of nature. With a multi-pronged life cycle, butterflies are involved in many crucial aspects of ecology. From feeding on the host plants as a caterpillar to being the high protein nutrition of birds and reptiles, from helping floral pollination to being indicators of a diverse and healthy habitat, this species is an absolute miracle in our sacred environment,” informed Bhattacharya as he guided us through the butterfly trail.
After an informative butterfly exploration, one can also visit the untouched Corbett falls and have a little picnic in the jungle with proper precautions. This pristine waterfall is located 25 km away from Ramnagar and is surrounded by teak wood forest. After reaching the parking area near the forest, you will have to trek 1.5km up to get there but the walk is worth remembering.
— The writer is a freelance journalist who reports on responsible travel and hospitality trends