Wakro, Arunachal Pradesh: The serene Wakro Valley and Kamlang Tiger Reserve came alive from October 23 to 26, 2025, as they hosted the 2nd Wakro Butterfly Meet, coinciding with the 8th Northeast Butterfly Meet (NEBM). The vibrant event celebrated butterfly diversity while promoting conservation, ecological awareness, and sustainable eco-tourism in the Eastern Himalayas.
Organised by the Kamlang Valley Nature Club in collaboration with the Butterflies of North Eastern India Group and the Kamlang Tiger Reserve & Wildlife Sanctuary, the meet brought together researchers, conservationists, and enthusiasts from across India and abroad. The programme was coordinated by Mr. Lokesh Mam and his organising team.
Among the key speakers were Mr. Nawang Gyatso Bhutia and Mr. Sonam Wangchuk Lepcha of BAMOS–Nature Conservation Society (Sikkim), along with Mr. Kamal Azad (Assam), Mr. Roshan Upadhaya (Arunachal Pradesh), and Mr. Atanu Bose (Assam). They shared insights on butterfly diversity, habitat management, and the importance of community participation in conservation.
The four-day event saw the participation of around 85 delegates, including 35 butterfly enthusiasts from states such as Assam, Sikkim, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, and West Bengal, along with a participant from France. Students from PM Shri Government Higher Secondary School Wakro, Don Bosco School Wakro, and KGBV Wakro also joined with enthusiasm.
Supported by leading conservation organisations like Aaranyak, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), WWF-India, Durgi Bhumiji Foundation, BAMOS–NCS, and others, the event featured butterfly walks, bird watching sessions, awareness talks, quizzes, and creative activities like stone painting and nature games.
Field surveys during the meet documented 235 butterfly species, including 35 rare and uncommon ones such as Swinhoe’s Flat, White Dragontail, Green Dragontail, Columbine, Nagatree Brown, Gray Commodore, Sergeant Major, and Dusky Diadem — underscoring the region’s rich biodiversity.
The meet concluded with a renewed call for community-driven conservation and responsible tourism, highlighting the Eastern Himalayas’ ecological significance.
Organisers also announced that the 9th Northeast Butterfly Meet (NEBM 2026) will be held at Ultapani, Assam, carrying forward the shared mission of regional collaboration and biodiversity protection across Northeast India.
