Butterfly museum draws tourists, researchers

March 21, 2023

A team led by Forest Range Officer has taken an initiative to research and conserve butterfly species found in Bhattiyat area, which falls under the Dalhousie forest division of Chamba district.
There are around 120 species of butterflies in the Bhattiyat forest range, including ‘Danaid eggfly’, which is included in Schedule-I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Photographs of 57 of these species have been displayed in the recently set up forest museum at Sihunta in Bhattiyat.
The museum has become a popular centre of attraction among researchers and tourists.
The main purpose of documenting butterflies is to demonstrate the quality of environment and highlight need for forest conservation.
Butterflies are an important part of our ecosystem, helping in pollination and complementing biodiversity.