Poll for National Butterfly ends, list of top 3 contenders sent to Centre
   Date :13-Oct-2020

butterfly_1  H
 
 
Staff Reporter :
 
RAIPUR,
 
The month-long citizens’ poll to nominate National Butterfly of India has concluded. As per the polls the top three contenders emerged are ‘Krishna Peacock’ as first, ‘Common Jezebel’ as second and ‘Orange Oakleaf’ as third. The poll was conducted by National Butterfly Campaign Consortium from September 11 and concluded on October 8, 2020, at the end of the Wildlife Week. The nation already has a National Bird, National Animal, National Flower and even a National Tree, so, it was natural to have a National Butterfly. Butterflies are one of the most important biological indicators, which means their presence or the lack thereof indicates how healthy or unhealthy is our environment. So the butterfly-lovers from across nation under National Butterfly Consortium to nominate India’s National Butterfly in a democratic manner by allowing commoners to vote. The consortium set up following criteria for selecting National Butterfly: 1. The butterfly should have cultural, ecological and conservation significance for the nation as well as internationally, 2.
 
The butterfly should be charismatic, 3. The butterfly should have an inherently attractive biological aspect that is engaging to the public, 4. The butterfly should be easily identified, observed and remembered, 5. The species should not have multiple forms, 6. The butterfly caterpillars should not be harmful or a pest, 7. The butterfly should not be too commonplace and 8. Avoid species which are already designated as a State Butterfly. National butterfly campaign consortium was formed by a group of 50 butterfly experts/enthusiasts representing from all the corners of the country. Month-long public voting yielded 59,754 votes.
 
Among the 59,754 votes maximum votes came from these top-15 states as Maharashtra-1st with 18,887 votes, Tamil Nadu-2nd 4,789 votes, Chhattisgarh-3rd 4,754 votes, West Bengal-4th 3,676 votes, Karnataka-5th 3198 votes, Madhya Pradesh-6th 2,841 votes, Kerala-7th 2471 votes and Assam-8th 2,457 votes, Andhra Pradesh - 9th with 2,368 votes, Rajasthan - 10th 2108 votes, Gujarat -11th 1,539 votes, Jammu -12th 1,402 votes, Uttar Pradesh -13th 1,386 votes, Delhi - 14th 1,352 votes and Telangana -15th 822. Seven species were shortlisted and were open for the public to vote. And These are the Top three voted butterflies - Krishna Peacock, Indian Jezebel, Orange Oakleaf.
 
The Final Report will be sent to the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change and the announcement of our National butterfly will be done by the Union Ministry soon after. The list of top three voted butterflies as mentioned above will be sent o the Ministry and final verdict will be called out by the Central Government. All 3 of the above will be sent to Ministry and the final verdict will be called out by the Central Government.