[ Prem Chetry ]

BOMDILA, 21 Sep: Shergaon-based NGO Garung Thuk (GT), in collaboration with Kolkata (WB)-based Nature Mates (NM) and the Centre for Climate Change, Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana, organised a series of events to celebrate the Big Butterfly Month (BBM) across West Kameng district.

The events were aimed at encouraging young minds to appreciate the butterfly diversity.

GT member and honorary wildlife warden Dr Lobsang Thashi Thungon, along with Sarika Baidya, researcher and programme manager (butterfly research and conservation) and her team, organised a series of events at Shergaon, Jigaon, Morshing and Mandalaphudung. The events engaged around 250 participants through butterfly walks, documentary shows, presentations, and games and fun activities, which drew the attention of the participants to insect conservation.

Dr Thungon highlighted the importance of the event, and said, "Today's young kids are our future. So, we need to sensitise them early. Such events are important to impart critical knowledge, nurturing them to grow into conservation leaders. We want Baidya and her team to keep coming here and enlighten our kids with valuable knowledge."

Speaking about the events, Baidya said, "Insect conservation is still very much underappreciated in our country. Such events are important to start the necessary conversation for insect conservation and engage the wider community, especially the students, in conservation actions."

Both GT and NM have been organising BBM events with various schools to raise awareness for butterfly conservation among the students for the last three years. This year, the BBM events helped to document more than 70 butterfly species from the region. The events were arranged with the support of the Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability, Ashoka University, and sponsored by DSP Mutual Fund, India.

Teams NM and GT expressed their gratitude to all participating organisations and institutions for the success of the Big Butterfly Month programmes.