Butterflies of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands: conservation concerns

Abstract

The insular butterfly fauna of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has a high degree of endemism (50% at the subspecies level). It shows high biogeographical affinity to both Indo-Myanmar and Indo-Malayan fauna. The endemics are generally rare taxa that inhabit specialized niches in some islands and should be regarded as vulnerable to extinction or extirpation in the near future. The complete fauna includes, with recent records, 236 taxa recorded to date. Only 50% of the total taxa have been found in recent years, since 1985. Following independence, several differ- ent development activities have come into play that have degraded the environment of these islands and caused widespread negative effects on their fauna. Several current programs put into place by the Indian Government include agriculture, agroforestry, forest-based industries and tourism. These programs pose immediate threats not only to the irreplace- able endemic butterflies, but to most other components of the endemic biota, not the least of which are forest landscapes. There is an urgent need to conserve and preserve the biodiversity in butterflies and to immediately implement monitoring schemes to both evaluate their present status and their dynamics over time. Thus far government action has included declaration of a biosphere reserve, designation of National Parks and Sanctuaries, and implementation of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. These actions do not appear effective in checking the degradation of most butterfly species and the natural resources upon which they are depen- dent. Additional measures are required to counter human impacts and to conserve the critical habitats in order to circumvent mass extinction of many endemics from these biogeographically rich islands.