Patterns of Diversity, Abundance and Species Richness of Butterfly Fauna in Borajan-Bherjan-Podumani Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam

Butterflies are important pollinators and effective bioindicator species to assess habitat quality and environmental health. The present study, conducted from March to October 2024, documents the diversity, species richness, and abundance of butterflies in the Borajan -Bherjan- Podumani Wildlife Sanctuary, Tinsukia District, Assam. A total of 89 butterfly species belonging to six families were recorded, out of which 14 species are protected under various schedules of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Out of the six families, the Nymphalidae family was the most dominant with 43 species, followed by Pieridae (13), Lycaenidae and Hesperidae (12 each), Papillionidae (8) and Riodinidae (1). The highest Shannon–Wiener Diversity Index (H′=3.63) and Evenness (E=0.96) were of the Nymphalidae family, which has the maximum diversity index of 3.63 and Evenness (E) is 0.96 for the family Nymphalidae. The study area highlights that the sanctuary has a rich butterfly diversity and important habitat for butterflies, emphasising the need for more conservation-focused studies and robust management strategies.