Noble’s Helen butterfly
Extremely rare Noble’s Helen butterfly was recorded for the first time in India from the Namdapha National Park in Arunachal Pradesh.
About Noble’s Helen butterfly:
- It is a swallowtail butterfly with a wingspan of 100–120 mm.
- It has an extra white spot in the dorsum of the forewing.
- Scientific name: Papilio noblei
- Distribution: They are found in Myanmar, Yunnan, Hubai (China), North Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam.
- The species is known to be very rare in occurrence in its previously known ranges.
Namdapha National Park:
- Location:
- It lies on the international border between India and Myanmar (Burma) within Changlang District in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.
- The Namdapha protected area is located between Dapha Bum ridge of Mishmi Hills, of North Eastern Himalayas and Patkai Ranges.
- It lies in close proximity to the Indo-Myanmar-China trijunction.
- It is the largest protected region of the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot.
- It was declared a National Park in 1983.
- Climate:It falls within the geographical sub-tropical zone and enjoys the sub-tropical climate.
- Biodiversity:
- It is only park in the World to have the four Feline species of big cat namely the Tiger (Panthera Tigris), Leopard (Panthera Pardus), Snow Leopard (Panthera Uncia) and Clouded Leopard (Neofelis Nebulosa).
- Hoolock Gibbons (Hylobates Hoolock), a highly endangered and only ‘ape’ species found in India is found in this national park.
- The park is also famous for critically endangered species like the Namdapha flying squirrel.
- Flora: Sapria himalayana, Amentotaxus, Cephalotaxus, Pinus merkusii (Sumatran pine) and Abies delavayi (Delavay’s Fir) etc.
- Fauna: Snow leopards, clouded leopards, common leopards, tigers,Red Panda,Himalayan bear, dholes, wolves, Hoolock Gibbon, hog deer etc.