National Current Affairs
Kerala Renames Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary as Butterfly Sanctuary
- 14 Jan 2026
- 2 min read
Why in News?
The Kerala government has officially renamed the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary in Kannur district as the Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary.
Key Points
- Notification: The renaming was officially notified under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- Reason: Due to the presence of rich abundance and diversity of butterfly species in the region and the need to protect and propagate their natural habitat.
- Butterfly Diversity: Aralam hosts about 266 butterfly species, representing over 80% of Kerala’s total butterfly diversity.
- Endemic Species: 27 species in Aralam are endemic to the Western Ghats.
- WP Act Protection: Six butterfly species recorded at Aralam are listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
- Historical Status: The Aralam area was originally declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1984.
- Global Significance: The sanctuary holds global ecological importance, as part of the Western Ghats, which is recognised as a World Natural Heritage site by UNESCO.
- Social and Environmental Impact: The renamed sanctuary is expected to strengthen biodiversity conservation, promote environmental education, ecotourism, and generate community engagement in protecting butterfly populations.
| Read More: Wildlife (Protection) Act, IUCN Red List, UNESCO |
