Pune : Policenama online – Tamhini Ghat is rich in biodiversity. Many rare species of flora and fauna are found here. Now Kerala’s State Butterfly ‘Malabar Banded Peacock’ has been sighted in the ghat. It is a rare butterfly species. Earlier, it was spotted in the Koyna Sanctuary and Sindhudurg district.
However, it was sighted for the first time in Pune district. It is among the beautiful butterflies in the world. It was sighted by environmental science students from Fergusson College, Rajat Joshi, Kalyani Bawa and butterfly expert Bagale. They have taken photos of the rare butterfly.
Rajat Joshi said, “This creature is found in only specific forests. Konkan and South India are its habitats. As per experts, it was never spotted before in Pune district. It is a treat for Pune district.”
The third most beautiful butterfly
It is spotted in Western Ghats. Its colour resembles a peacock feather. Hence, it is named after it. It is the third most beautiful butterfly in India. Mainly, it is spotted in Kerala and Karnataka. It was sighted in January 2021 in the Koyna sanctuary. Now, it is spotted in Tamhini Ghat. It flies very speedily.
Joshi said, “Tamhini Ghat is a haven for butterflies. Many species of butterfly are found here. Currently, some unique flowers are blossoming in Tamhini. It is a rightful home of many rare butterflies.”
Butterfly expert Dr Ankur Patwardhan said, “Malabar Banded Peacock is a rare butterfly. It is the State Butterfly of Kerala. It was earlier spotted in Sindhudurg. It is very good news if it is sighted in Tamhini Ghat. It is seen in dense forests and stays near streams and waterfalls. Its males are very active in green forests. It lays eggs on fruits such as chikoo.”
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