Arunachal – A recent biodiversity survey in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Siang district has led to the discovery of six butterfly species previously undocumented in India, underscoring the ecological richness of the Eastern Himalayas and the importance of community-led conservation efforts.
The study, conducted in the Simong Community Forest, was led by researchers from the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru, in collaboration with the Litin Community Conservation Society. Published in the latest issue of the journal Entomon, the findings are based on photographic evidence collected during fieldwork in 2024.
Among the newly recorded species are Litin Onyx (Horaga takanamii), Narrow-banded Royal (Dacalana vui), Tibetan Duke (Euthalia zhaxidunzhui), Tibetan Sergeant (Athyma yui), Tibetan Junglequeen (Stichophthalma neumogeni renqingduojiei), and Mountain Columbine (Stiboges elodinia). These butterflies were previously known only from countries such as Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, and southeastern Tibet. Their presence in Arunachal Pradesh not only expands their known geographical range but also suggests a biogeographic link between India’s Siang Valley and Tibet’s Metok region.
The study notes that the Brahmaputra River may play a critical role in facilitating faunal continuity between southeastern Tibet and eastern Arunachal Pradesh. During the seven-day survey, the research team documented 90 butterfly species, highlighting the region’s underexplored Lepidopteran diversity.
Agur Litin, a local conservationist and member of the Litin clan, led the expedition and co-authored the study. The researchers emphasized that the discovery of six previously unrecorded species within a short survey period reflects the urgent need for more comprehensive biodiversity assessments in the Indian Eastern Himalayas.
The findings also reinforce the vital role of indigenous communities in preserving fragile ecosystems. The Litin clan’s stewardship of the Simong Community Forest has proven instrumental in protecting one of the last wild landscapes of the Eastern Himalayas, while contributing to a deeper understanding of India’s natural heritage.
