Rare butterfly species sighted in Assam

Sukhendu Bhattacharya

Kokrajhar (Assam), Aug 31 (PTI) A rare species of
butterfly, believed to be extinct, has been sighted and
documented in Assam's Kokrajhar district.

Researcher Kushal Choudhury who spotted the
Yellow-Crested Spangle (Papilio elephenor), last sighted
hundred years ago, photographed and documented it at Phipsu in
Ripu-Chirang reserve forest in the district.

This is the first-ever photograph of the live species to
be taken in the world after it was first recorded by
naturalist C T Bingham in 1907, Divisional Forest Officer
(Wildlife Division) Sonali Ghosh said.

Choudhury said he had documented the butterfly on May 22
in the Ripu-Chirang reserve forest.

The species is included in the red data book (list of
species whose continued existence is threatened) of the
International Union for Conservation of Natural Resources.

Choudhury has been studying swallow-tail butterflies on
the north bank of river Brahmaputra from Sonkosh to Dhansiri
river since 2002.

The DFO said the forest department will do everything
possible to rear and preserve the winged creature. (MORE) PTI