Inter-State butterfly trade thriving
PALAKKAD: The Wildlife Protection Society of India here says that trade in rare and endangered butterflies are rampant in the State, with even some supermarkets selling them. The society, which investigated the trade, says it bought them from one such outlet in Kozhikode.
For exports, cocoons are mostly used. Foreigners come to Nilambur and Gudalloor to collect them.
The society says main areas where butterflies are trapped are forests in Palakkad and Malappuram districts and Gudalloor in Tamil Nadu, where they are found in large numbers during the breeding season from August to February.
S. Guruvayurappan, project officer and coordinator of the society's South India wing, told The Hindu that of late, trade in butterflies had become good business because of the demand from fashion designing and interior decoration industries in Europe. Those in Japan and Germany were the main buyers.
He said the cocoons were transported by air from the airports in the State or through courier and postal services. The easiest way to smuggle was by packing them as gifts. Butterflies were also smuggled in containers and shipments from Kochi.
Online trade
He said even e-marketing of butterflies was going on worldwide. On a web site, some common Indian insects were priced between $ 1 (nearly Rs. 45) to 20. For rare species, such as Trigonophorus delesserti, the price went up to $ 125. The rate was $ 100 for the male Chrysochora species. Nearly 60 Indian butterflies and other insects were listed. He said villagers near the forests used nets and other equipment to catch butterflies. Some children were experts in catching them. The charge exceeded Rs. 2,000 for rare coloured butterflies.
For common ones, the rate ranged from Rs. 5 to Rs. 100. Southern birdwing, Paris peacock and Atlas moth species fetched good prices.
The villagers sold through collection agents. According to the villagers at Nilambur in Malappuram, research students, professionals and foreigners were the main buyers of butterflies.
News Courtesy : The Hindu Newspaper
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