Flying with the Butterflies

Butterflies are the most beautiful creatures for nature. Known for its glittering wings. Almost all are attracted to these colourful beings. There about 1700 species of butterflies in the world. About 15% are endemic to India.Butterfly species play a significant role in the food chain as they are food for lizards, birds and other creatures.The warning bells are ringing. India’s butterfly population is dwindling fast. Thanks to industries, butterflies are almost extinct and exotic species like the copper butterflies, swallowtail, and Malabar are in danger. Less than thousand remain at least a hundred species are on the brink of extinction. Fall in population of butterflies means a decrease in number of their predators.

Here I would share the experience of flying with butterflies along with my friends.

A beyond awesome weekend spent visiting Belvai and Moodbidri in Karnataka. It was excited visit to the butterfly park. Roaming in a park filled with elegant flowers and butterflies was really a awesome experience.

And every moment of being there with the world's most beautiful creatures, variety of them.

During the presentation that followed, learnt a lot about butterflies. We were briefed about the types of species, difference between moths and butterflies, eating habits, behavioral changes, life cycle, adaptations and every thing relayed to butterflies, with pictorial examples. We got to see many of those species in the park during the short span when we were there. ‘Seeing butterflies can make anyone happy of any age. It’s hypnotic to see colourful wings spread across the nature’ says Flexcia,visitor at the park.

Samilian Shetty’s butterfly park:

But the said part of the journey is the warning bells India’s butterfly population is dwindling fast. Thanks to industries, butterflies are almost extinct and exotic species like the copper butterflies, swallowtail, and Malabar are in danger. Less than thousand remain at least a hundred species are on the brink of extinction. Fall in population of butterflies means a decrease in number of their predators.

When butterfly leaves an ecosystem?What is the threatening signal

when butterfly vanishes who would u enjoy the most playing around to enjoy your joyful movements. Like another creature, butterfly also needs certain environment to survive universal need is the presence of plants, buds, fruits. If factors related to the butterfly change, there will be change in its population. If the change is negative then butterfly will not leave the eco system. As we all know that eco system is the chain of interconnection and interlinked.If the plants and herbs in forest begin to die out means an unsustainable increase in grazing, forest fires or worse.

How to protect them:

An increase of native trees, plants they feed on. Reduction in the usage of pesticides can help butterflies. Maintain natural and sustainable gardens rather than the artificial gardens. Create a zone of flowers and plants that butterflies feed on. With the very short life span people tend catch them.

One such effort is made by Pilikula Nisarga Dhama in Mangalore city.  Samilian Shetty’s butterfly park. With the creation of plants and environment to preserve the butterflies. An open garden well maintained with variety of species. Hesperiidae,swallowtails, pieridae , nymphalidae,lycaenidae are the prominent creatures found in the park. The park is developed on natural inhabitants of the park. The park respects the butterfly’s freedom and enclosure maintained to keep them trapped within the park. Sammlian shetty, situated at Belvai, near Moodabidri at foothills of western ghat, the park is a treasure house of wide variety of butterflies belonging to this region.

But presence of butterfly in the eco system: 

However natural presence of butterflies is important to environment.As they play major role in our eco system and cycles. They are drastically drained out.

Lack of conversation and loopholes to protect of the species and illegal smuggling have led to species death. It’s sad that butterflies are now depending upon unnatural zones. The mode of preserving is done through these butterfly parks. Some extent they are preserved.

A link between underground water and butterflies?

When underground water regime changes, it is reflected in the plants comprising the forest.Lots of water during summer will mean healthy and varied herbs if not will die out. The evergreen forest might be replaced by deciduous or coniferous trees. So butterflies will drastically reduce. Many factors like urbanization usage of ground water have been leading to death of butterflies.

However its your soul responsibility to protect our colorful celebrities called the butterflies. Their  presence are not just important to the Eco system but also to the mesmerizing memories.