The Kaiser-i-hind is an extremely rare green and copper butterfly which is considered protected. 
   It is a species of swallowtail butterfly found from Nepal and north east India to north Vietnam. (found in small pockets of Nepal, Bhutan and along the Eastern Himalayas in India (West Bengal, Meghalaya, Assam, Sikkim and Manipur). It is also found in northern Myanmar, northern Vietnam and in the Sichuan province of China. They are mostly seen above 6,000 feet (1,800 m).
   The name literally means "emperor of India".
   The Kaiser-i-hind is much sought after by butterfly collectors for its beauty and rarity. 
   The green iridescence of the wings has been found to be due to three-dimensional photonic structure of the scales (structural pigmentation) and is the subject of considerable research.
    It is a local and rare butterfly which is protected by Indian and Nepalese law.
   Protection enforcement in these countries is not particularly effective; it is hunted  and sold to collectors for high prices. 
   The government of Arunachal Pradesh, a state in northeast India recently adopted Kaiser-i-Hind as its state butterfly.
   The two species of Kaiser-i-Hind were listed in CITES Appendix II from 1987.
   They are a high altitude forest species  which occurs at medium and higher elevations in the Himalayas from 6,000 to 10,000 feet (1,800 to 3,000 m) in heavily wooded terrain.
   In the north east of India, much of its forest habitat is degraded by jhoom cultivation.
  The butterfly is rarely found in the degraded woodland patches. 
   They have a very fast and strong flight, and fly at tree top level until they choose to descend if there is strong morning sunlight.
   When overcast, males are known to descend and sit on low vegetation, where their disruptive, dull underside coloration makes them difficult to distinguish. 
   Females are known to fly in overcast and rainy weather also.
   Males visit damp patches and also suck moisture from leaves.
   Females rarely visit flowers or damp patches but they can be attracted by baiting. They are often found on forest clearings and open spaces flanked by forests on hills and mountains.
   These are mostly males, who establish territories and aggressively drive away other intruding males, and stop virgin females in search of mates.
   They fly in Sikkim in April and May and later in Manipur from May to July. They usually have two broods.