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Thursday, March 25, 2010 - 08.48 GMT

Sri Lanka declares a national butterfly

 
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources declared Sri Lanka's largest butterfly - the "Sri Lanka Bird Wing" (Troides darsius) as the National Butterfly of Sri Lanka, under the recommendations of the Butterfly Expert Group of the Ministry.

Butterfly fauna is one of the biologically and culturally important taxon groups. 243 species of butterflies with 20 endemics have been recorded from Sri Lanka. Out of these, 66 species have been listed in a ‘threatened’ category. Their populations are fast disappearing due to habitat degradation, fragmentation, environment pollution etc.

Its forewings are glossy black and hind wings are bright yellow with a black margin. The wing expanse is approx. 165-180mm.

The establishment of a national identity and biological heritage of any life form through declaration will help enhance public awareness. Conservation of a faunal group such as the butterflies which contain many ‘threatened’ as well as flagship species can be achieved through public awareness with a positive attitude.






 
 
   
   
   
   
   

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Last modified: March 26, 2010.

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