Bhutan glory (Bhutanistis lidderdalii),
Eastern Himalaya. |
2001 update: In July 2001,
two Russian butterfly hunters were arrested in a National park in Sikkim, India.
I was involved in this case as the only independent expert, while the international
insect mafia (represented by some professional entomologists from Germany and
Russia) and Russian consulate tried to get the poachers out of jail. Thanks to
local environmentalits, these two "scientists" had to spend few weeks
under arrest, although they eventually got away with the crime after paying a
symbolic fine. The English translation of an article I wrote for Arguments and
Facts, Russia's most popular weekly newspaper, is here. |
| 2002 update: Bernhard
Wenczel, a Swiss entomologist, is breeding rare species of Saturnidae moths
and other insects. He also tries to develop a sustainable model of insect collecting
in Peru by teaching local butterfly hunters how to minimize bycatch and breed
the species most wanted by collectors. His goal is to make forest conservation
economically attractive for local people by providing a source of income which
depends on preserving forest rather than destroying it. |
Rainforest replaced with pastures and coca
plantations, Sierra de Macarena
National Park, Colombia.
|
Swiss Alps. |
Unfortunately, people like Bernhard Wenczel are still a tiny minority. Most
dealers are more interested in destruction rather than conservation, and even
better-protected areas in Europe and North America are in danger. As Bernhard
himself told me:
"In 1986 in the Verzasca Valley of Ticino State, I saw some kids hunting a recently
described endemic subspecies of Parnassius phoebus. They didn't collect
the butterflies, just killed and threw away. I asked them about it. They didn't
know why they were doing it, but said that they'd been paid by some Japanese guy
to kill as many butterflies as they could. I never saw him, but I informed the
local police..." Apparently, some commercial dealer tried to drive the subspecies
to extinction just to beat up prices.
|
Euxena moth, Mount
Kinabalu, Sabah. |
Lyssa zampa moth,
Gunung Mulu, Sarawak. |
This large moth is commonly
seen on forest trails at night. |
Eupterote moth, Mount
Kinabalu, Sabah. |
| Tropical countries paying enough attention to protecting biodiversity are
even more rare than honest insect dealers. In striking contrast with most other
nations of Southeastern Asia, Malaysia managed to preserve
large tracts of forests, and is doing its best to protect its wonderful Nature
reserves. Even the most beautiful butterflies and moths are still common there. |
Thauria aliris is well
camouphlaged when
sitting on the forest
floor. |
But it turns into an
explosion of color
if flushed. Templer
Park, Malaysia. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Butterflies of Malaysia,
left to right: Papilio memnon, Troides helena, Graphium sarpedon, Trigonoptera
brookeana, Appias sp., Eurema andersonii, Lexias pardolis. |
Giant Heterometreus scorpio,
Taman Negara, Malaysia. |
Xylotrupes rhinoceros beetle,
Niah Caves, Sarawak. |
Large beetles, scorpions, and moths are becoming increasingly
rare in most tropical areas, as thousands are collected for souvenir trade. Beyond
doubt, some illegal collectors manage to enter Malaysia's Nature reserves, but
their impact there is not yet so obvious as elsewhere. |
| 2003 update: In Mexico and Central America, overcollecting
seems to be a minor threat compared to habitat destruction. Forests outside protected
reserves are mostly gone; even National parks do not offer much of protection
in most countries in the region. |
Siproeta stelenes, El Tajin, Veracruz. |
Chlosyne janais, Tikal, Guatemala. |
|
 | | Dione moneta, Heliconius charitonius. El Cielo Biosph. Res., Tamaulipas. |
|
In Mexico and Guatemala, cloud forests seem to be even more threatened
than lowland rainforests. I ended up bying a tiny patch of cloud forest in a desperate
attempt to save its inhabitants from extinction - details here. |
 |
 |
| Moths of El Cielo Biosphere
Reserve, Tamaulipas. |
Back to Page 2
Home |
