The documentation of the flora and fauna of the region and the database created by volunteers helped highlight the biodiversity of the Chamundi Hills at the round table conference convened by the citizens of Mysuru on Sunday.
Mr. A. Shivaprakash, who is among the volunteers and a bird expert who has studied the flora and fauna of the region said as per a database of the undivided Mysuru, had 1,700 species of plants and trees in the region of which more than 500 species were in Chamundi Hills alone. Of these, one in four had medicinal properties.
Study and observation over a period of a decade confirmed the presence of 153 species of butterflies representing six families besides witnessing danaids butterfly migration. The well-growth thicket providing continuous shade throughout the day accommodates these migratory butterflies roosing in Chamundi Hills, according to Shivaprakash. He said different species of caterpillar subsist on different species of plants and the loss of the habitat due to rope way or similar projects will also lead to local extinction of the butterfly species.
According to Mysore Nature, a website (www.mysorenature.org) where the database of flora and fauna of Mysuru and surrounding region is uploaded, Chamundi Hills is home to over 150 species of birds belonging to 44 families and some are endemic while others are migratory because of the suitability of the habitat.
