Guwahati, April 19: Kaziranga went full bloom and flutter this World Heritage Day as over 70 students, conservationists, and wildlife lovers gathered in the Panbari range for a vibrant two-day celebration centred on orchids and butterflies—two of the park’s most overlooked but spectacular treasures.
Organized by Kaziranga National Park in collaboration with Aaranyak, Bhumi, The Corbett Foundation, and WWF-India, the Orchid and Butterfly Walk turned the iconic tiger-and-rhino stronghold into a classroom under the sky. From April 18–19, the Panbari beat pulsed with colour, curiosity, and conservation talk.
Known globally for its one-horned rhinos, Kaziranga is now staking its claim as India’s second butterfly capital, boasting a whopping 446 species. And when it comes to orchids, the park isn’t shy either—65 species across 32 genera have been recorded here, many of them rare and some endemic.
Expert talks added depth to the experience, with Khyanjeet Gogoi, president of the Orchid Society of Eastern Himalayas, and Dr. Monsoon Jyoti Gogoi of ATREE decoding the delicate relationship between these plants and pollinators. Their message: protecting butterflies and orchids is not just about pretty pictures—it’s about sustaining the invisible threads that hold ecosystems together.
The event wasn’t just a walk—it was an immersive experience. Students from various schools and colleges got to see conservation in action, not through slideshows but through safaris, field identification, and real-time observation. New bilingual signboards co-designed by The Corbett Foundation were installed, offering bite-sized facts on Panbari’s birdlife and biodiversity.
To round it off, four educational booklets were launched – Orchids of Kaziranga National Park (in English and Assamese), Birds of Panbari and Butterflies of Kaziranga.
Certificates were distributed by S. Dutta, principal of CNB College, recognizing the participants’ role in spreading the message of conservation.
Kaziranga’s reputation as a stronghold for tigers, rhinos, and elephants often overshadows its botanical and entomological wealth. But this event aimed to flip the narrative—reminding everyone that preserving the small is as critical as protecting the big.
Species like Zeuxine lindleyana, Eulophia kamarupa, and Biermannia bimaculata—all endemic or rare—are indicators of the health of Kaziranga’s ecosystem. Likewise, the butterfly diversity points to the intricate balance that exists between flora, pollinators, and larger fauna.
