Guwahati, April 17 : In a landmark achievement for India’s biodiversity, the first-ever live photograph of a female Kaiser-i-Hind (Teinopalpus imperialis, Hope 1843) has been captured from the lush temperate forests of Ravangla (Rabong) in Namchi District, Sikkim. The rare butterfly was documented on January 3, 2025, at 2:30 PM at an altitude of 2,300 meters by Dr. Chewang Norbu Bhutia and his wife, Dr. Hishey Ongmu Bhutia, both veterinary doctors and nature enthusiasts, is based in Ravangla.
Known as the “Emperor of India,” the Kaiser-i-Hind is one of the most elusive butterflies in the Himalayan region and is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022. It is also listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, underscoring its vulnerable status. The butterfly’s primary host plant is Magnolia campbellii (Magnoliaceae).
The identification of the female butterfly was confirmed by Mr. Nawang Gyatso Bhutia, Limca Book of Records holder and a prominent conservationist, with support from butterfly enthusiasts Kavita Rai, Prem Baniya Chettri, and Sonam Wangchuk Rongkop (Lepcha), executive members of the Butterflies and Moths of Sikkim Nature Conservation Society (BAMOS-NCS). Further verification and expert insights were provided by lepidopterists Dr. Monsoon Jyoti Gogoi and Dr. Sailendra Dewan of ATREE.
Dr. Chewang Bhutia formally presented the photograph during his visit to the BAMOS-NCS awareness stall at the Cho-Dzo Fest 2025 — Discover Rabong — held on April 14. “The Butterflies and Moths of Sikkim-Nature Conservation Society’s awareness program was highly beneficial and informative. I am thankful for the identification support—it added great value to the event,” he stated.
This remarkable documentation is expected to significantly boost butterfly tourism in Sikkim, a rapidly growing sector in the state’s eco-tourism landscape. With over 720 butterfly species recorded, Sikkim is emerging as a major destination for butterfly watchers, researchers, and nature photographers from around the world.
This rare sighting reaffirms Sikkim’s status as a sanctuary for endangered butterflies, especially as habitats in other regions, such as Darjeeling and parts of Northeast India, are increasingly threatened by invasive species like Malingo bamboo and practices like shifting cultivation (jhum).
The photograph of the female Kaiser-i-Hind was also formally presented to the Chief Minister of Sikkim on the final day of the Cho-Dzo Festival, marking a proud moment for citizen science, community-led conservation, and cultural preservation in the region.
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