MANGALURU: Sammilan Shetty’s Butterfly Park in Belvai is set to host the first-ever Belvai Odonata Workshop-2025 from May 30 to June 1, aimed at promoting awareness and scientific documentation of dragonflies and damselflies (odonates) in the biodiversity-rich Western Ghats.
The three-day residential workshop, part of the SSBCRT initiative, is designed for nature lovers, students, and early-career researchers. India is home to over 500 odonate species, with the Western Ghats alone harbouring nearly 210 species, including 82 endemics.
“Odonates are excellent indicators of freshwater ecosystem health. Through this workshop, we hope to foster citizen science and inspire conservation,” said Sammilan Shetty, founder of the Butterfly Park.
The programme will be mentored by Dr Dattaprasad A. Sawant, odonatologist and editor at Odonata of India, and Vivek Chandran A, a doctoral researcher and co-author of several species discoveries from the region. Participants will explore diverse habitats, learn to identify species using key anatomical features, and document behaviours like courtship and predation.
With over a decade of biodiversity documentation, the 7.4-acre Butterfly Park has already recorded 158 butterflies, 125 spiders, 110 birds, and numerous other species.
The workshop is limited to 15 participants per batch, with three free slots for eligible applicants and 25% fee concession for students with valid ID.
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