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Saving swallowtail and birdwing butterflies

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  • World Swallowtail Day – 8th June 2025
Counting Kinabalu Birdwings from a mountain lodge
SBBT » Kinabalu Birdwing Project

Kinabalu Birdwing Project

Project title: Survey and Breeding Programme for Troides andromache – The Kinabalu Birdwing.

The Kinabalu Birdwing, also known as the Borneo Birdwing (Troides andromache Staudinger 1892) is endemic to the island of Borneo. It is listed on CITES Appendix 2,  and on the IUCN Red List as Near Threatened. No significant conservation work is known to have been done since this species was first listed in 1985 (as Indeterminate – a status no longer in use) in Threatened Swallowtail Butterflies of the World – The IUCN Red Data Book, by N.M. Collins and M.G. Morris (available here). Their account (with minor changes) is reproduced here.

The following video provides some key information on the species and its habits and also illustrates a remarkable new product from the project – a newly choreographed dance!

The stronghold of this large, beautiful and sexually dimorphic birdwing butterfly now appears to be along the boundary of the Mount Kinabalu National Park.  There are historical reports from several lowland sites in both Sabah and Sarawak, which are yet to be verified. The species is now seemingly localized in montane areas around Gunung (Mt) Kinabalu, from where it has been recently recorded.

The foodplant of the larva has yet to be positively identified, although oviposition has been observed taking place on dead stems of Aristolochia vines.

The Swallowtail and Birdwing butterfly Trust (SBBT) and the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu have given financial support to Dr Stephen Sutton and his team to undertake a well thought-out and essential study of this near threatened butterfly.  They will pursue six major objectives on the ecology of the Kinabalu Birdwing including:

  • distribution
  • abundance
  • foodplant/s
  • encouraging local awareness (especially for eco-tourism)
  • advising on village breeding programmes
  • establishing andromache as an icon of Malaysia’s national heritage.

Other national and regional institutions are also being approached for financial assistance and support in kind, and project extensions are under consideration. In due course, the Singapore Botanical Gardens have indicated that they may be able to provide training in planting and propagation of the foodplants, which will be crucial to any breeding programme.

We will report any further progress on this important project in the SBBT Papilio! newsletters. Sign up on our Home Page.

The project is now drawing to a close but we hope it will continue to go from strength to strength in years to come.

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    Latest News

    The Bhutan Glories: An update from Sonam Dorji

    29th May 2025

    Featured species: Papilio hornimani

    27th May 2025

    Thank you to outgoing chairman N. Mark Collins

    21st May 2025

    Focus on the False Apollo (Archon apollinus)

    7th May 2025

    African Giant Swallowtail (Papilio antimachus)

    21st March 2025

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    Our Mission

    The mission of the Swallowtail and Birdwing Butterfly Trust is to conserve and protect members of the Papilionidae, a worldwide family of more than 580 species that include the largest, most spectacular and most endangered butterflies on the planet.
     

    Aims

    SBBT aims to build the capacity of local people and organisations to achieve long-lasting conservation and sustainable change.

    Methods

    We achieve this in four ways: we raise financial resources; convene research networks and partnerships; catalyse action, and provide scientific and technical support to conservation projects.

    Wider Reach

    Our work is generally planned and executed in the context of wider butterfly faunas, their foodplants, and the ecosystems that they inhabit.

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    Financial contributions are welcome and will be treasured. We also need your ideas, new information, suggestions and encouragement!

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    What We Do

    We do four things to help swallowtails and birdwings: we raise financial resources; convene networks and partnerships; catalyse action, and provide scientific and technical support.

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    Send an email to info@sbbt.org.uk, or post a letter to SBBT, c/o Stephenson Smart, Queens Head House, The Street, Acle, Norwich NR13 3DY, UK

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      We want to keep you up to date!
      Sign up to hear from us and we’ll send you our free e-newsletter and keep you up to date with what’s happening at the Swallowtail & Birdwing Butterfly Trust, including news, campaigns and appeals. Don't worry, we take care of your data and never release it to third parties. See our Privacy Policy for details

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