Dehing Patkai harbours 165 butterfly species, 37 endangered: CM Sarma
Synopsis
Dehing Patkai isn't just a forest — it's a sanctuary for 37 endangered butterfly species out of 165 recorded in the landscape. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma's social media post puts a rare biodiversity number on the table at a time when northeast India's forest ecosystems face mounting pressure from development and climate change.
Key Takeaways
Dehing Patkai in eastern Assam is home to 165 recorded butterfly species , including 37 endangered species .
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted the findings in a post on social media platform X on 25 August .
Butterflies are recognised as key indicators of ecosystem health, with populations linked to vegetation, climate, and habitat integrity.
Sarma credited ongoing conservation efforts for creating conditions where rare species can survive and flourish.
The data is expected to strengthen Assam's case for expanded habitat protection and eco-tourism planning in the region.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday, 25 August spotlighted the remarkable butterfly diversity of Dehing Patkai, describing the eastern Assam landscape as a critical refuge for the state's rare and threatened species. According to Sarma, the region has recorded 165 butterfly species, of which 37 are classified as endangered.
What Sarma Said
Sarma shared the findings on social media platform X, using the line 'Butterfly, fly away…' to open his post before underscoring the ecological significance of the area. 'Conservation efforts are helping create a thriving habitat where rare species can continue to flourish,' he wrote, drawing attention to ongoing initiatives aimed at protecting Dehing Patkai's fragile forest ecosystem.
Why Dehing Patkai Matters
The Dehing Patkai landscape, situated in Assam's eastern belt, is recognised for its dense, biodiverse forests and diverse flora and fauna. Butterflies are widely regarded by ecologists as reliable indicators of ecosystem health — their populations are closely tied to vegetation cover, microclimatic conditions, and the overall integrity of natural habitats. The presence of 165 recorded species, including 37 endangered ones, underscores the region's outsized ecological value relative to its geographic footprint.
Conservation Context
Assam has stepped up wildlife conservation measures in recent years, focusing on protecting forest landscapes and raising public awareness about the ecological importance of its natural heritage. Dehing Patkai's butterfly count adds a measurable biodiversity metric to those broader efforts. Notably, preserving butterfly habitats has cascading benefits — it supports plant diversity through pollination and sustains other species that share the same ecological environment.
Broader Significance
Sarma's post comes amid growing national and global emphasis on biodiversity conservation and the sustainable management of forest resources. The identification of 37 endangered butterfly species in a single landscape signals both the richness of Assam's natural inheritance and the urgency of safeguarding it against habitat loss, climate stress, and encroachment. Conservationists argue that robust butterfly populations are among the first signs that an ecosystem is recovering — and their decline, equally, is an early warning.
With Assam positioning itself as a model for wildlife conservation in northeast India, the Dehing Patkai biodiversity data is expected to inform future habitat protection policies and eco-tourism planning in the region.
Point of View
But numbers without enforcement frameworks rarely translate into protection. Dehing Patkai has faced repeated pressure from coal mining and infrastructure projects in the past; a social media post celebrating its biodiversity is welcome, but the harder question is whether Assam's conservation policy has the teeth to match the headline figure. Northeast India holds a disproportionate share of India's biodiversity precisely because development arrived late — that window is narrowing, and butterfly counts alone won't hold it open.
NationPress
25 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many butterfly species are found in Dehing Patkai?
Dehing Patkai has recorded 165 butterfly species, of which 37 are classified as endangered. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared these figures in a post on social media platform X on 25 August.
Where is Dehing Patkai located?
Dehing Patkai is located in the eastern region of Assam, northeast India. It is known for its dense forest ecosystem, diverse flora and fauna, and is a recognised biodiversity hotspot.
Why are butterflies important as a biodiversity indicator?
Butterflies are widely regarded by ecologists as reliable indicators of ecosystem health because their populations are closely linked to vegetation cover, microclimatic conditions, and overall habitat integrity. A high diversity of butterfly species typically signals a well-functioning, healthy ecosystem.
What conservation efforts are underway in Dehing Patkai?
According to CM Sarma, ongoing conservation initiatives are focused on protecting Dehing Patkai's forest habitat and creating conditions where rare and endangered species can survive and flourish. Assam has broadly increased its wildlife conservation and forest protection efforts in recent years.
Why is the Dehing Patkai butterfly data significant for Assam?
The identification of 165 butterfly species, including 37 endangered ones, provides a measurable biodiversity metric that strengthens the case for habitat protection policies and eco-tourism development in the region. It also highlights Assam's role as a key conservation zone in northeast India.
