1-Jul-2019: Tamil Yeoman declared state butterfly of Tamil Nadu

 Tamil Yeoman (Cirrochroa thais), a butterfly species endemic to Western Ghats, has been declared as the state butterfly of Tamil Nadu. The tawny-coloured creature with a dark brown outer ring is among the 32 butterfly species found in Western Ghats. Also known as Tamil Maravan, which means warrior, these butterflies could be found mainly in hilly areas.

The forest department had formed a technical team to prepare a proposal to suggest a butterfly species which could be declared the state butterfly a few months ago. The team comprised representatives from the forest department as well as butterfly experts and enthusiasts from across the state. After shortlisting two species - Tamil Yeoman and Tamil Lacewing — a few weeks ago, it finally chose the former. Based on the recommendations of the team, the principal chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden requested the state government to declare Tamil Yeoman as the state butterfly. Following this, a government order was passed in this regard.

Tamil Nadu has become the fifth state in the country to announce its state butterfly. Maharashtra was the first to declare Blue Mormon as its state butterfly, followed by Uttarakhand (Common peacock), Karnataka (Southern bird wings) and Kerala (Malabar banded peacock). While the butterfly becomes the pride of the state after such a declaration, the decision also helps conserve its ecosystem and paves the way for eco-tourism. People also recognize the importance of butterflies which subsequently helps in its conservation. There are a total of 32 butterfly hotspots in Tamil Nadu. The state had declared its various other icons earlier, like state animal (Nilgiri Tahr), state bird (Emerald Dove), state tree (palm tree), state flower (Gloriosa) and state fruit (jack fruit).