Sahyadri Rustic butterfly spotted in Mumbai for first time at SGNP

Experts say this first sighting of Sahyadri Rustic signifies a northward range extension for the Western Ghats species; The finding was published in the Zoo’s Print Journal (September 2025) by naturalists Akash Mhadgut and Amey Parkar

In a first for Mumbai, the Sahyadri Rustic (Cupha erymanthis maja), a butterfly native to the Western Ghats, has been recorded at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP). The sighting not only highlights the rich biodiversity of the park but also marks a northward range extension for the species, previously known only up to Karnala Wildlife Sanctuary and Matheran.

The finding was published in the Zoo’s Print Journal (September 2025) by naturalists Akash Mhadgut and Amey Parkar. Read More

The butterfly was spotted on July 13, 2024, during a nature walk i