Delhi Earth Walks at Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary Trip Report
Date: 12th May 2024
Location: Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary
Walk expert: Alok Kumar
Other experts: Mahesh Rajpoot, Deepak Kumar, Salil Dutta
No. of participants: 12
Theme: Butterfly watching
Brief summary of the walk: We arrived at Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary at around 7:00 AM, just as the sun was beginning to warm the forest. The sanctuary, located on the Southern Ridge of Delhi, offers a serene escape from the city's hustle and bustle.
After a brief orientation at the visitor center, where we picked up a butterfly identification expert Alok Kumar, and maps, we set off on one of the marked trails known for its rich butterfly population. The trail was moderately easy to navigate, winding through semi-arid forest and scrubland.
Our first sighting was a Plains Cupid, gracefully fluttering around a patch of ziziphus flowers. Its shiny blue wings with black spots made it easy to identify. Shortly after, we spotted several Yellow Orange Tips, their bright yellow wings blending beautifully with the foliage.
As we continued, we were thrilled to see a Pioneer White basking in the sunlight on a tree. Its vibrant White and black pattern was mesmerizing. We also encountered numerous Plain Tigers (Danaus chrysippus), their bold orange and black wings contrasting against the green backdrop.
Species spotted during the walk:
- Pioneer White (Belenois aurota)
- Red Pierrot (Talicada nyseus)
- Yellow Orange (Tip Ixias pyrene)
- Pale Grass Blue (Pseudozizeeria maha)
- Plain Tiger Butterfly (Danaus chrysippus)
- Dark Grass Blue (Zizeeria karsandra)