Iritty: In the wake of the State Wildlife Board’s decision to designate Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary as a butterfly sanctuary, the government has taken the next step by directing the Chief Wildlife Warden to draft a blueprint for the proposed Aralam Butterfly Village.

At a function held in Kozhikode on August 30, the Chief Minister made an announcement outlining the butterfly village project that would encompass the wildlife sanctuary, areas of neighbouring panchayats and the Aralam Farm.

Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary is blessed with scenic beauty and rich biodiversity. Unlike other forest regions in Kerala, butterfly watching and research have been ongoing here for the past 25 years. The sanctuary offers stunning views of butterfly migration between December and February. The migration of butterflies, including the Albatross variant, and their mud-puddling is a sight to behold.

According to the 2025 annual butterfly survey, 1,200 butterflies were recorded during a five-minute watch. On a single day, the arrival of over 4 million Albatross butterflies was documented. Of the more than 40 butterfly species endemic to the Western Ghats, 27 have been spotted in Aralam.

The development of Aralam as a butterfly village aims to create employment opportunities for local residents, boost the local economy, and uplift the community. The proposed village will be transformed into a knowledge centre by addressing human-wildlife conflict, promoting an eco-friendly conservation model, and facilitating research, education, and awareness.

Enhancing the butterfly ecosystem is expected to promote sustainable tourism. A key objective is the integrated development of Aralam Farm and farm tourism, including flower cultivation to attract butterflies. The project also envisions the creation of nurseries for butterfly-attracting plants and the establishment of butterfly groves.

Aralam Wildlife Warden V Ratheeshan and Assistant Wildlife Warden Ramya Raghavan have informed that the preparation of a comprehensive blueprint will begin shortly. It will incorporate suggestions and studies from the Forest Department, Aralam Farm, local panchayats such as Aralam, Kanichar, Kelakam, and Muzhakkunnu, TRDM, the District Tourism Promotion Council, universities, research institutions, the Biodiversity Board, NGOs and local community.

Activities aimed at transforming Aralam Butterfly Village into one of the world’s leading butterfly conservation areas are being planned.