LIFE ON LAND: Preserving The World's Largest Butterfly

 Survival of 
THE QUEEN ALEXANDRA BIRDWING BUTTERFLY

 
Native to the costal rainforests of the Oro Province in Papa New Guinea, the Queen Alexandra Birdwing is the largest butterfly species on our planet. With female wingspans reaching up to 10 inches wide, it truly lives up to its name in the kingdom of insects. Yet the very existence of this magnificent butterfly species hangs on a feeble balance between the destructive forces of nature, and the actions of man.

With its entire population concentrated within a 100km2 rainforest area, the Queen Alexandra Birdwing population took a severe hit after the eruption of Mount Lamington nearby in 1951. Today, these butterflies also face the threat of habitat destruction from palm oil plantations. Without adequate support and protection, the Queen Alexandra Birdwing may be unable to maintain a viable living population one day, and soon vanish from the face of our planet.

CHARLES HARBOTTLE the Butterfly Conservationist
Charles dedicates his time to the survival of the Queen Alexandra Birdwing. His connection with the species runs deep, having inherited the love for specimen collection from his father (and his grandfather before him). In Papa New Guinea, he oversees a breeding and habitat protection program with a team of local and international experts. Their ultimate goal is to repopulate the Oro forest region with the Queen Alexandra Birdwing enough to move it from Appendix 1 to Appendix 2 on the CITES endangered species list. This would legalize trade of the specimen as well as raise awareness of this beautiful species around the world.


With your kind support, lets make sure that this wonder of nature lives on.