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| Blue Duke is declared as state butterfly of Sikkim |
Gangtok, Jun 5, 2022: Blue Duke declared as the state butterfly of Sikkim by the chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang during World Environment Day celebration.
CM made the announcement at a function held on regard to World Environment Day.
The process of identifying the state butterfly started in the year 2021. There are over 750 species of butterflies found in Sikkim.
Two butterflies ( Krishna peacock & Blue Duke ) were short listed for the public and an expert poll out of which the blue duke got 2,295 votes. The total votes cast were 4,036 in a recent online poll conducted by the Forest Department.
Blue Duke, which goes by the scientific name Bassarona durga durga, is unique to Sikkim and the eastern Himalayas. It was discovered in the state in 1858.
The Blue Duke falls under Schedule 2 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and is a protected species in the Himalayas.
Krishna Peacock (Papilio Krishna) secured 43 per cent of votes in the online polls to secure the second position.
Reporter - Istuti Chettri (Sikkim India)
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