Some Major Events in 2016
Chasing Butterflies in High Wavy Mountains
Meghamalai popularly called High Wavy Mountains is a cool and misty mountain
range situated in the Western Ghats in Theni district, Tamil Nadu, near Kumaly
Idukki District, South India. It is a place of natural beauty dotted
with cardamom plantations and tea estates. The place is situated at an elevation of
1,500 m above sea level and it is rich in flora and fauna. This area, now mostly
planted with tea, the access to which is now largely restricted. It still includes large
untouched remnants of evergreen forest.
A total of 59 species is not a bad count for the month of February, but we consid-
ered this on the lower side and expected about 75+. Considering the butterfly dry
months now and the habitation that is still intact in many places, we can expect a
healthy species getting recorded in seasons and in more areas that can be cov-
ered! Nilgiri Tiger, Red-disc Bushbrown, Common Grass Yellow, Common Five-ring,
Dingy Scrub Hopper and White Hedge Blue are the dominant species of the land-
scape at this point in time.
A shola around a Plantation was chosen on Day one in High wavys. The approach to the Shola was through a Tea plantation and
the Shola had a path for the entire stretch of 1.5 Km before another Plantation intercepted the Shola. The day started with
sighting a few Nilgiri Tigers apart from a few common species. A fast moving Palni Four-ring was recorded though could not be
captured clearly by camera. As we entered the Shola, the sky was clear and sunlight was penetrating wherever open space was
available and that was a good setting for Butterfly Watching. A lone Redspot Duke made its presence for a brief while. And
thereafter, it was the show of Red-disc Bushbrowns. There were ple