Orange oakleaf

For those interested in learning more about the delightful species, there will be talks by experts including Butterfly Man of India Isaac Kehimkar, and Dr Milind Bhakare, who will speak about his book A Guide to Butterflies of Western Ghats. Among other outreach activities is an origami workshop, journalling competition, butterfly life-cycle and photography contests, quiz, videography and webinars. The activities are planned in a way that people learn to not just appreciate butterflies, but also contribute to conservation efforts, which includes data gathering, Madan adds. "One of the most important facets of the month is The Big Butterfly Count, which will be held from September 14 to 20 where citizens can participate. There's a huge black hole when it comes to data on butterflies. The contests and the species count are aimed at creating a large butterfly monitoring network," he explains.

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Throughout the month, educational materials will also be shared to aid the identification process. While it's a step towards a larger citizen-led science movement, Madan says it's also a way to de-stress. "If you go out to see butterflies, it'll be good for your health. People are already looking at nature in their backyard for inspiration during the lockdown. We intend to tap into this opportunity to drive the conservation conversation," he signs off.

Stately Nawab

Sohail Madan

From September 5 to 20
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