Q.9 Please mention names of a few species that are near extinction in India?

Dr Kunte: There are many butterflies in india that are rare and depend on evergreen forests for their survival. since their habitat is rapidly vanishing in the face of human-induced destruction and degradation, they are threatened. however, the rare butterflies may not necessarily be near extinction, they may just be rare. among the species that are considered endangered, some of the particularly famous or impressive ones are the Bhutan Glory (Bhutanitis lidderdalii), Kaisar-i-hind (Teinopalpus imperialis), Imperial Apollo (Parnassius imperator), Chin Hills Pallid Faun (Melanocyma faunula faunuloides), Spendid Blue Duke (Euthalia durga splendens) and Scarce Jester (Symbrenthia silana).

Q.10 What role a school going student can play to protect these species from extinction?

Dr Kunte: these are big conservation problems, so rather than school-going children, schools can do something about helping to protect these species mainly through nature awareness programs, helping the forest department with students in raising and planting forest tress in forest fringe areas, etc. these efforts would be particularly effective if done by schools in the places like the western ghats and the himalayas, where many of the endangered species occur. hopefully some of these students will go on to become butterfly biologists and conservationists who would actively work towards conservation of these species.

Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3