On World Environment Day 2022; the Chief Minister of Sikkim, P.S. Golay, declared Blue Duke as the “State Butterfly of Sikkim”.
Blue Duke is a Sikkim endemic butterfly species. With its two distinct colours, it depicts Sikkim. The sky is represented by blue, while the Himalayan mountains are depicted by white. The butterfly is a symbol of Sikkim’s distinct identity. It can be found in the Himalayas, at a height of fewer than 1,500 meters.
Blue Duke is listed in Schedule 2 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. It is a highly protected species of butterfly in the Himalayas.
