Reported by Roopak Goswami
Guwahati: Sikkim’s rich biodiversity has received a major scientific boost with the release of a landmark publication documenting a sharp rise in the Himalayan state’s butterfly diversity from 689 to 753 species.
The updated checklist, titled Butterflies of Sikkim: An Updated Checklist of Sikkim Himalaya, was released by the Butterflies and Moths of Sikkim Nature Conservation Society (BAMOS NCS), highlighting the addition of 64 butterfly species to the state’s faunal records.
Authored by conservationists Matrika Sharma and Dorjee Chewang Bhutia, the publication is being seen as a significant contribution to biodiversity documentation in the Eastern Himalayas, one of the world’s most ecologically sensitive regions.
The book was unveiled at a ceremony in Gangtok attended by senior government officials, scientists, conservationists, and members of civil society.
Among those present were Additional Chief Secretary C.S. Rao, Inspector General of Police Khilbarna Gurung, Conservator of Forests Suraj Kumar Thatal, and academics from Sikkim University and other institutions.
According to the authors, the revised checklist is based on extensive field surveys, documentation, and validation carried out over several years across the Sikkim Himalaya.
“This book is not just a list; it is a testament to the thriving ecosystems of our mountains,” the authors said, adding that the publication is expected to serve as an important baseline for future conservation planning and ecological research.
The updated count further reinforces Sikkim’s reputation as a biodiversity hotspot, particularly for lepidopteran species, which are considered important ecological indicators of environmental health and climate change.
Apart from its scientific value, the publication has also been designed in an accessible format aimed at students, tourists, amateur butterfly enthusiasts, and researchers.
BAMOS NCS said the initiative received support from the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department and the Forest and Environment Department of the Government of Sikkim.
The society works on the study, documentation, and conservation of butterflies, moths, and their habitats in the Sikkim Himalaya through scientific research and community engagement.