State can woo more visitors with butterfly tourism: Experts

Dehradun: With over 500 species of butterflies found across Uttarakhand, experts said that “butterfly tourism” can give fillip to the state’s branding as a tourist destination. It is also the second state in the country, after Maharashtra, to have the ‘Common Peacock’ as a state butterfly.
“Butterflies can be found extensively in areas such as Devalsari, Pawalgarh and Munsiyari. Locals there are adept in the knowledge about butterflies. These areas can become hotspots for butterfly tourism,” said Sanjay Sondhi of the Dehradun-based Titli Trust, which carries out research on butterflies.
Sondhi had also recently authored a book about various butterfly species found in the state.
Two butterfly parks have been created in the state: one at Lachhiwala in Dehradun and another at the Botanical Garden in Kumaon. Peter Smetacek, an expert undergoing studies about butterflies and also one of the founder presidents of the Butterfly Research Centre in Bhimtal, said, “A lot of tourists come to the butterfly centre here. There is a lot of potential in butterfly tourism in the state.”
Residents in villages with high density of butterflies have slowly begun venturing into butterfly tourism. Arun Prasad Gaur, coordinator of the Devalsari Environment Protection Committee, said, “There are a whopping 130 species to be found in Devalsari. A large number of butterfly aficionados from across the country visit this place.”
Balakrishnan Valappil, a tourist from Kerala, said, “I have been coming to Devalsari for the past five years to click photographs and shoot videos of butterflies. Each time, I am startled by new varieties. Some of the villagers have become expert butterfly guides. They help me in locating different species.”

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/state-can-woo-more-visitors-with-butterfly-tourism-experts/articleshow/61618606.cms