Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Butterfly Heaven in Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary





Assam’s Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary spanning about 20.89 kms., is home for India’s only Gibbon  - The Hoolock Gibbon, and Northeastern India’s only nocturnal primate – The Bengal Slow Loris. This fragmented patch of semi- evergreen forest was formerly known as the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary or Hollongapar Reserve Forest was officially constituted and renamed in 1997.










Fluffy Tit (Zeltus amasa) Under wing













Fluffy Tit (Zeltus amasa) Upper wing










We a group 4 nature enthusiast from Maharashtra had planned to explore the rich bio-diversity of Lepidoptera of the region.


Pale Green Awlet Caterpillar seen at Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary



Common Maplet Butterfly usually seen taking shelter underneath the leaves



Tawny Rajah in combat



Camouflage is the best survival strategy seen in butterfly caterpillar



Tiger Hopper - A tiny butterfly seen on the grasses and small shrubs








Slate Flash (Rapala manea) Under wing













Slate Flash (Rapala manea) Upper wing









It was great experience to click one of my wish list butterflies Oriental Map (Cyrestis thyodamas)



Very fast flying & territorial butterflies which are difficult to capture Variegated Rajah (Charaxes kahruba)



Close up shot - head of Green Awlet Caterpillar using extension tubes














Whitebar Bushbrown (Mycalesis anaxias)













Eye level shot of Gaudy Baron (Euthalia lubentina), one can see the curled proboscis (tongue)










Tawny Rajah on road killed toad. This reminds me of Classic photographs of Hunter Kings during British rule who use to step on the kill







Forest Pierrot (Taraka hamada) one of handsome looking butterfly















Blue Imperial (Ticherra acte) a very graceful butterfly of our trip
















Gaudy Baron (Euthalia lubentina)

















Autumn Leaf (Doleschallia bisaltide)

















Courtesan (Euripus nyctelius)










Many questions are unanswered in nature, this is one of them...

Identity of this caterpillar is unknown








Knight (Lebadea martha) the butterfly which posed for us for such along time....





One of my wish list butterfly and equally satisfying me with the opportunity to click the one of the good images during the trip











Sylhet Oakblue (Arhopala silhetensis) underwing



Day 1: This  butterfly was very sluggish and was not ready fly away. We left it as it was thinking there was something wrong.








Sylhet Oakblue (Arhopala silhetensis) upperwing

Day 2:  Early Morning at the same spot we saw it basking. The same individual survived 24 hours at the same spot with not getting noticed by its predators








Leopard Lacewing (Cethosia cyane) - Butterfly above & Caterpillar below





Common Lascar (Pantoporia hordonia)










Great Archduke Male (Lexias cyanipardus)













Great Archduke Female (Lexias cyanipardus)











Tree Yellow (Gandaca harina) one the difficult butterfly to photograph in our trip. It was very sensitive to the slightest movement made. Hemant calls this Spotless Beauty......









White-edged Blue Baron Male (Euthalia phemius)























White-edged Blue Baron Female (Euthalia phemius)










Swordtails are always fascinating and this Fivebar Swordtail gave us difficult time while shooting





Long-banded Silverline (Spindasis lohita)





Orange Oakleaf (Kallima inachus)









Lesser Zebra (Graphium macareus)














Staff Sergeant (Athyma selenophora) Under wing

















Staff Sergeant (Athyma selenophora) Upper wing

















Tree Yellow (Gandaca harina)






Unidentified Sailer (Neptis sp.)









Common Peacock (Papilio polyctor) - One of the beautiful creation of mother nature












Being Small in size and still rich in diversity, the forest has its own problems - There is settlement in the Sanctuary, Surrounded by Tea gardens, Railway line passing through its elephant corridor, Wood cutting..........

But there is always a HOPE in the eye of the real protectors of this forest - Forest Guard Team. We got an opportunity to spend 6 days with one of the SAVIOR of this wilderness






It is always a challenge to get best image when photographing butterflies. Focusing on eyes and shooting the fluttering beauties at eye level are couple of tips to get good pictures. One of our team member - Rahul Natu - lying on wet soil  to click  Red based Jezebel












THE TEAM

From left to right: Abhijit Narvekar, our guide Dilip, Hemant Ogale , Myself (Animish Mandrekar), Forest Guard.

How can I forget the one who click this picture  - Rahul Natu.








That's me !!!  Clicking Orchids in a acrobatic position









Gibbon WLS  provides many opportunities to shot subjects other than butterflies








Eye of Tokay Gecko (Gekko gecko)














Aggressive Tarantula species















Unidentified pair of Mating Moths















Long Horned Beetle














Jumping Spider













How To Reach: 

Nearest Town: Jorhat (20 Kms.)
Nearest Railway Station: Mariani (5 Kms.)
Nearest Airport: Jorhat (25 Kms.) 

Where to Stay: 
IB Bungalow or Forest rest house is the best place for stay. Currently there are 2 rooms which can accommodate 4 people. The below picture you can also see a new facility of 4 rooms getting final touch and will be ready by mid of 2013. 

For Booking Contact:
 

The Divisional Forest Officer, Jorhat Division Tel: +91-376-2320008 & +91-376-2320456. Forest Range Officer, Mariani Range Tel: +91-37716-244125

Tips for stay: 
There kitchen & cook available but one need to take all the ration. Fresh vegetables & all other ration is easily available at small town - Mariani, which just 5 kms away from wildlife sanctuary. 
If you don't have booking at forest rest house, then one stay at Jorhat and visit the sanctuary. There are good and clean hotel available at just Rs. 600 per day (Rate as per Year 2013). We stayed at Hotel Dilip in Jorhat which was Clean and could recommended.