Friday, May 08, 2026 22:15 [IST]
Last Update: Thursday, May 07, 2026 16:35 [IST]
GANGTOK,: The second edition of Rimbi Butterfly Walk with local butterfly expert
Sonam Pintso Sherpa was successfully conducted from May 1 to 7 with
participants from the Bangalore Butterfly Club. The main objective of the
program was to promote butterfly tourism and create awareness about
biodiversity conservation in Sikkim.
A
press release informs that the five-day nature tour covered biodiversity-rich
locations including Rimbi, Darap, the UNESCO World Heritage Site
Khangchendzonga National Park, and the Ramsar Site Khecheopalri Lake.
A
total of eight participants from the Bangalore Butterfly Club took part in the
program, namely Ashok Sengupta, Rohit Girotra, Dr. Rajesh Gupinatha, Ajit
Varghese, Austin Ajit, Shiny Ajit, Shekar Nagesh and Shekar Revanns.
The
daily activities included early morning bird watching sessions followed by
butterfly walks and biodiversity observation in forest trails, riversides, and
nearby habitats. Discussions on butterfly identification, ecology, and
conservation were also conducted during the field visits.
Despite
unfavorable weather conditions affecting butterfly activity this year, the
participants successfully recorded more than 50 species of butterflies and over
30 species of birds along with numerous insects and other biodiversity, the
release mentions.
Some
of the highlighted butterfly species observed during the walk included the Rose
Windmill, Great Windmill, Common Windmill, Dusky Labyrinth, Powdered Green
Sapphire and Awlets. Bird highlights included the Long-tailed Broadbill,
Crested Kingfisher, Crested Drongo and Green Magpie.
Although
the weather remained challenging throughout the tour, many “lifer” species from
the participants’ personal checklists were successfully spotted within a short
duration, making the experience memorable and rewarding.
The
participants expressed satisfaction and appreciation for the rich biodiversity,
scenic beauty, and conservation significance of West Sikkim. The program also
highlighted the growing potential of butterfly tourism and eco-tourism in the
region.
Sonam
Pintso Sherpa extended heartfelt gratitude to all the participants from the
Bangalore Butterfly Club and thanked the team members of the Butterfly Society
of Sikkim – TPCF for their support in making the butterfly walk a grand
success.
On
the closing day, butterfly expert Nosang Limboo visited Rimbi and interacted
with the members of the Bangalore Butterfly Club. He expressed his gratitude
for the visit and extended partnership in such nature activities in future, the
release mentions.
