Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji
Panaji, May 8: Goa’s lush wilderness yielded a treasure trove of biodiversity during the City Nature Challenge (CNC) 2025, with two rare butterfly species — the Aberrant Oakblue and Banded Royal — making unexpected appearances. These elusive finds, known for their shy demeanour and affinity for undisturbed forest habitats, were recorded by biodiversity enthusiast Devesh Naik, one of the top contributors from Goa in the international biodiversity documentation initiative.
The shimmering Aberrant Oakblue, rarely spotted even by seasoned lepidopterists, and the secretive Banded Royal, often tucked away in forest canopies, brought excitement among conservationists and nature lovers alike.
“These sightings are a strong reminder that Goa still harbours many natural secrets,” said Aditya Kakodkar, State Coordinator – Goa, for WWF-India. “Such discoveries underscore the critical need for systematic documentation. Without concrete data, we cannot truly understand the extent of biodiversity — or how much of it we may be losing,” he told.
The CNC, a global citizen science event originally launched by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the California Academy of Sciences, encourages people to observe and record flora and fauna in their surroundings using the iNaturalist app. In Goa, the entire state was considered as one city due to its compact geographical size.
From April 25 to 28, Goa made an impressive mark in the global challenge, with 20,265 nature observations and 1,927 species documented. The state ranked fourth in India for most observations and fifth for species count, showcasing its rich and often underappreciated ecological wealth.
A total of 155 Goan participants turned the event into a vibrant celebration of local biodiversity. Leading the pack in observations was Suhani Sahani with 2,224 entries, followed by Devesh Naik (2,167) and Ankush Sahani (1,740). In terms of species diversity, Devesh Naik led once again with 481 unique species, ahead of Vithal Naik (405) and Anvay Chati (332).
The local coordination of the challenge was helmed by zoologists Ankush Sahani and Vaishnavi Rajesh Naik, supported by Lisha Da Costa, Senior Programme Officer at WWF-India.
“City nature walks and events like CNC play a pivotal role in encouraging people to observe and connect with their environment,” Kakodkar added. “More participation means more awareness — and a better shot at conserving Goa’s unique natural heritage.”
At the national level, Hyderabad led Indian cities with 33,989 observations, while Nanakmatta in Uttarakhand recorded the highest species count at 2,574 — a testament to India’s diverse ecological landscapes.