Palakkad: The four-day survey of butterflies in the Silent Valley National Park conducted jointly by volunteers and officials of Forest Department concluded here the other day. This was the first such survey to be conducted at the Park.
The survey was conducted to find out the presence of different types of butterflies and moths in the park. The survey was conducted by setting up seven base camps at different locations in the park spread over 237.52 sq kms of the wildlife division.
The survey found 164 species of butterflies and 37 species of moths. The study classes were given to the members taking part in the survey and Silent Valley Wildlife Warden Shilpa V Kumar addressed them before the survey started. The method of survey and information about different transects were given to the volunteers.
Forest officials said that out of the 164 species of butterflies, 19 are endemic to the Western Ghats.
The biggest butterfly found in India named Garuda, endemic species like Malabar Rose, Pullivalan, Poochakanni, Ookkila Salabham, Vanamalagha, Urulan Velineeli, Pandan Saravegan, Swarna Pathangam,Sahiyadhri Chinnan among were found during the survey.
Apart from this Eetta Salabham, Chekavan and Canara Sara Salabahm were found in the survey and they are reported in the Nilgiri region for the first time.
The remarkable moths found during the survey were Marathaka Rajan, Nattuneer Kavalan, Vadakkan Aruviyan, Kattu Mula Valan among other. Apart from this, 41 types of ants were also found during the survey.
