GANGTOK, :In a significant milestone for Indian biodiversity, Dr. Chewang Norbu
Bhutia and his wife Dr. Hishey Ongmu Bhutia, both veterinary doctors from
Ravangla, have captured the first-ever live photograph of a female
Kaiser-i-Hind butterfly (Teinopalpus imperialis, Hope 1843) in India from
Sikkim.
The
elusive butterfly was recorded on January 3, 2025 at 2:30 pm at an altitude of
2,300 meters in the rich temperate forest landscape of Ravangla, said
conservationist Nawang Gyatso Bhutia on Monday.
Nawang
shared that it was the first-ever live photograph of a female Kaiser-i-Hind
butterfly in India. Earlier, only the male Kaiser-i-Hind butterfly was recorded
in India, he added.
Commonly
known as the ‘Emperor of India’, the Kaiser-i-Hind is a rare butterfly species
protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022,
highlighting its critical conservation status. Its known host plant is Magnolia
campbellii (Magnoliaceae). Additionally, the species is one of only two
Himalayan butterflies listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, making it
among the most threatened butterfly species in India.
It
took time to confirm the butterfly’s identification and its significance.
The
female butterfly’s identification was confirmed by conservationist Nawang
Gyatso Bhutia, along with butterfly enthusiasts Kavita Rai, Prem Baniya
Chettri, and Sonam Wangchuk Rongkop (Lepcha), an executive member of the
Butterflies and Moths of Sikkim Nature Conservation Society (BAMOS-NCS).
Further
confirmation and expert insight were provided by lepidopterists Dr. Monsoon
Jyoti Gogoi and Dr. Sailendra Dewan from ATREE, it was informed.
Dr.
Chewang Bhutia presented the photograph during his visit to the BAMOS-NCS
awareness stall at the ‘Cho-Dzo Fest 2025 — Discover Rabong’ on April 14.
Speaking
on the occasion, he remarked, “The Butterflies and Moths of Sikkim Nature
Conservation Society awareness program was highly beneficial and informative. I
am thankful for the identification support—it added great value to the event.”
The
documentation of this rare sighting is a major boost for butterfly tourism in
Sikkim, a flourishing eco-tourism sector drawing global attention. With over
720 recorded species, Sikkim is fast emerging as a hotspot for butterfly
watchers, researchers, and nature photographers.
The
record indicates that Sikkim harbors a rich habitat for this butterfly, whereas
elsewhere in India—such as in Darjeeling—its native habitat is severely
threatened by invasive Malingo bamboo, and in the Northeast, by shifting
cultivation (jhum). This historic record not only emphasizes Sikkim’s vital
role in wildlife conservation but also reflects the success of grassroots
participation in environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and
sustainable development, said Nawang.
Organizations
such as BAMOS-NCS are at the forefront, conducting awareness programs,
butterfly-watching trails, and educational outreach that promote conservation
while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities.
