India’s butterfly boom turns nature walks into conservation movement

Bengaluru: From urban forests in Bengaluru to biodiversity hotspots in the Northeast, butterfly-watching is sparking a new wave of conservation, education, and sustainable travel across India.

Rohit Girotra, one of four founding members of the Bangalore Butterfly Club, began leading butterfly walks at the Doresanipalya Forest Research Station off Bannerghatta Road in 2012. The guided walks help participants identify, learn about, or simply enjoy butterflies.

“I’m enamoured by the beautiful world of these colourful insects,” Rohit said. “I feel we have been successful in introducing Bengalureans to them.”Today, the BBC community has grown to nearly 600 members. Building on that momentum, Rohit and co-founder Ashok Sengupta have launched Papilio Trails, a new initiative offering butterfly-focused travel experiences.

“We identified places where we have been that offer amazing butterfly experiences,” he said, listing Coorg in Karnataka, Upper Siang in Arunachal Pradesh, and Garo Hills in Meghalaya.

The growing interest is turning butterfly-watching into a gateway to ecology and sustainable tourism. Enthusiasts and experts across India are using parks, forests, and trails to connect people with nature and inspire conservation at the local level.