Female Kaiser-i-Hind Photographed for the first time in Sikkim
The elusive female Kaiser-i-Hind butterfly has been photographed alive in Sikkim’s Ravangla by Dr Chewang Norbu Bhutia and Dr Hishey Ongmu Bhutia.
In a tale that’s got butterfly buffs all aflutter, a rather regal lady has made her photographic debut in India—and she’s no ordinary flutterby. In a proud moment for Indian biodiversity, Dr Chewang Norbu Bhutia and his better half, Dr Hishey Ongmu Bhutia, both veterinary doctors from the picturesque town of Ravangla, have managed to capture the first-ever live photograph of a female Kaiser-i-Hind (Teinopalpus imperialis, Hope 1843).
Yes, you heard it right. The lady in question was finally caught—not with a net, mind you, but with a camera—on the 3rd of January, 2025 at precisely 2:30 pm, perched rather daintily at an altitude of 2,300 metres in the lush temperate forests of Ravangla, Sikkim. One imagines she was having a bit of a flutter herself, unaware of the media frenzy she was about to unleash.
“It’s the first time ever that a live female Kaiser-i-Hind has been photographed in India,” announced conservationist Nawang Gyatso Bhutia on Monday, positively beaming like a proud uncle at a wedding. Up until now, the gentlemen of the species had hogged the limelight—typical—but the elusive madam has finally made her grand entrance, with all the grace of royalty.
Nicknamed the “Emperor of India”—and clearly not one to mingle with the riff-raff—the Kaiser-i-Hind is no back-garden cabbage white. Oh no, this rare species is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022, which in biodiversity terms is akin to being knighted and sworn to secrecy all at once. The species’ larval host plant is Magnolia campbellii, which sounds quite posh, and fittingly, it’s one of only two Himalayan butterflies listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List—basically on nature’s version of the waiting list for the endangered VIP lounge.
Of course, it wasn’t all as easy as “point and click”. The butterfly’s identity had to be carefully scrutinised—no room for mistaken identity when you’re dealing with royalty. The verification team, led by Nawang and comprising local butterfly aficionados Kavita Rai, Prem Baniya Chettri, and Sonam Wangchuk Rongkop (Lepcha), all of whom are part of the splendidly named Butterflies and Moths of Sikkim Nature Conservation Society (or BAMOS-NCS for those who prefer not to run out of breath), confirmed the sighting.
Further expert nods were given by lepidopterists Dr Monsoon Jyoti Gogoi and Dr Sailendra Dewan from ATREE—whose names alone could make any nature documentary sound more romantic than it already is.
The now-famous photo was unveiled by Dr Chewang Bhutia himself at the ‘Cho-Dzo Fest 2025 – Discover Rabong’ on April 14, rather like an artist revealing his latest masterpiece at the Tate. “The BAMOS-NCS awareness programme was brilliant,” he remarked, no doubt still basking in the afterglow of butterfly-induced fame. “I’m grateful for the identification support—it added great value to the event.” Translation: “Absolutely chuffed.”
The significance of this sighting is, quite frankly, no small potatoes. For Sikkim, which already boasts over 720 recorded butterfly species, this record is the cherry on an already rather fluttery cake. It bolsters Sikkim’s reputation as a butterfly-watching paradise—without the need for a safari hat or mosquito spray.
Meanwhile, in other parts of India like Darjeeling, the poor Kaiser’s habitat has been muscled out by invasive Malingo bamboo, and in the Northeast, it’s been given the elbow by shifting cultivation practices. So, Sikkim stands out not just for its natural charm, but for actually managing to keep the lights on for its wild residents.
As Nawang put it, the sighting is not just a win for conservation, but also a triumph of grassroots grit, environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and sustainable development—a proper all-rounder if ever there was one.
BAMOS-NCS continues to lead the charge with its awareness campaigns, butterfly-watching trails, and outreach programmes that are as much about livelihoods as they are about lepidoptera. It’s conservation with a cuppa and a camera, and it’s working.
So here’s to the lady of the hour—the female Kaiser-i-Hind. Long may she flutter. And if she fancies another photoshoot, we suggest Ravangla—same time next year. We’ll bring the biscuits.
What's Your Reaction?
