Kelakam: As the monsoon draws to a close, swarms of butterflies have begun appearing across the hills and riverbanks of the Western Ghats. These butterflies have started to congregate in large numbers along the riverbanks to engage in `mud puddling', a fascinating process where they extract nutrients and minerals from the moist earth.

The migration is expected to commence by mid-January as butterfly numbers continue to swell and hit he peak. In previous years, the Albatross species began its mass migration as early as by mid-December.

During mud puddling, butterflies, primarily the males of certain species, absorb salts and amino acids from the damp soil. According to butterfly watcher Nishad Manathana, the butterfly congregations this season include species such as the Common Albatross, Chocolate Albatross, Common Jay (Nattukudukka), Southern Bluebottle (Neela Kudukka), Common Jezbel (Vilasini), Painted Sawtooth (Chola Vilasini), Mallow Skipper (Van Chemban), Three-spot grass yellow (Manja Pappathi), Common Crow (Arali Shalabham) and the Plain Tiger Butterfly (Kaduva Shalabham).

The sandbanks along the Cheenkanni River in the Kelakam Panchayat have become the primary gathering spot for these butterflies. As the migration intensifies in the coming days, nature enthusiasts and researchers are expected to flock to the area to witness and photograph the spectacle.

Visitors can also enjoy a dip in the crystal-clear waters of the Cheenkanni River, cross over the `elephant wall' to spot wildlife in the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary on the opposite bank or trek to the mist-covered peaks of Palukachi Mala. The Kelakam Eco-Tourism Society has made necessary arrangements to accommodate the visitors.