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You are here: Home / Kinabalu Birdwing Project / Kinabalu Birdwing Project Update 2023

Kinabalu Birdwing Project Update 2023

A Kinabalu Birdwing butterfly on a flower.
Kinabalu Birdwing (Troides andromache) – Murphy Ng

In 1985, the Kinabalu Birdwing was listed in Threatened Swallowtail Butterflies of the World – The IUCN Red Data Book as Indeterminate – little was known about this rare butterfly endemic to Borneo, and no significant conservation work was being carried out to ensure its future.

In 2017, the Swallowtail & Birdwing Butterfly Trust gave a grant to Dr Stephen Sutton to carry out much-needed research into the species. The grant, which was matched by the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu, ignited a project which culminated, in October 2023, in the Kinabalu Birdwing being declared the state butterfly of Sabah – an incredible success for this species, which is now listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.    

The aim of the Kinabalu Birdwing Project was to carry out research to understand more about this threatened butterfly’s abundance, its distribution, and its foodplant, as well as to raise awareness amongst the local population, advise on community-led breeding programmes and help establish Troides andromache as an icon of Malaysia’s national heritage.

Dr Sutton and team, despite being hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic, carried out a successful research project, providing vital information about the Kinabalu Birdwing’s numbers, distribution, and ecology. They also developed a network of local landowners and homestay owners to deliver community breeding programmes, encouraging them to help maintain populations of Troides andromache by planting host plants whilst benefiting from ecotourism.   

A group of people smiling at the camera at a Kinabalu Birdwing site.

The Swallowtail & Birdwing Butterfly Trust subsequently supported MSc student, Corné van der Linden, to continue community engagement work with this network. Corné is currently continuing his work there, studying the biogeography and genomics of birdwing butterflies for a PhD.

The designation of the Kinabalu Birdwing as the state butterfly of Sabah is a testament to the incredible work of Dr Sutton, his team, and local communities on the ground, and it is hoped it will help secure an ongoing commitment to protecting this beautiful but threatened species and Sabah’s biodiversity for the future.


Could you support work to protect swallowtails and birdwings?

Make a donation today or get in touch to discuss how you could make a difference for some of the world’s most-threatened butterflies.

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    Latest News

    Kinabalu Birdwing declared Sabah’s state butterfly

    8th October 2023

    The Kinabalu or Borneo Birdwing (Troides andromache) has officially been named as the state butterfly of Sabah in Malaysia, Borneo, sparking hope for the future of this threatened species. The striking but elusive butterfly is found only in Borneo where it frequents the mountainous regions of Mount Kinabalu and Crocker Range. However, it faces the […]

    SBBT award grant to filmmaker to highlight the Glories of Bhutan

    12th September 2023

      In August 2023, the Swallowtail & Birdwing Butterfly Trust provided a grant to wildlife documentary maker, Sonam Dorji, to produce a short film on the Bhutan Glory (Bhutanitis lidderdalii) and Ludlow’s Bhutan Glory (Bhutanitis ludlowi). Sonam, who is based in Bhutan, discovered a site in 2020 where both species fly in the same location, something […]

    Second “Saving Swallowtails” Conference planned

    24th July 2023

    SBBT’s much-acclaimed global online conference is back. Our first conference in June 2021 focussed mainly on the Papilioninae. This time, we’ll be exploring the Baroniinae (the Baronia) and the Parnassiinae (apollos and allies). The meeting will once again take us on an online world tour, with expert papers from the Americas, Europe and Asia. The […]

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    OUR APPEAL

    Swallowtails and birdwings are beautiful and graceful butterflies – who wouldn’t love to see them dancing in the sunlight or sipping nectar from wildflowers? But many species are under threat from agriculture, forestry and climate change. We have ideas, enthusiasm and a vision for the future. Will you help us to achieve our goals?

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    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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