Rare butterflies spotted in Thrissur

Thrissur, Feb 8 (UNI) Four rare varieties of butterflies were spotted at the Vazhachal-Athirappilly hydro electric project forest area recently, during a nature study tour conducted by experts in this district.

Interacting with mediapersons here today, Dr Unni Pulikkal, director of the Butterfly Art Foundation India-an organisation for art and enviornment and a noted wild life photographer, said Dr George Mathew of the Kerala Forest Research Centre had recognised the rareness of the butterflies.

The new varietis were named as 'Red Spot Duke', 'Malabar Flash','Great Evening Brown' and 'Five Bar Sword Tail', he added.

Dr Pulikkal has been invited to attend the prestigious 'Earth Festival' to be held in Chicago next year to present a paper on the butterflies of the Western Ghats. He had been selected as one of the best ten photographers of India by the 'Better Photography' magazine.

The study tour was conducted by Dr Pulikkal and research co-ordinator Dr Biju.

UNI XR/MA JJ SY RK1945