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
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
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 […]
Réunion’s endemic Papilio phorbanta protected under CITES
The vulnerable Réunion endemic “Papillon la Pature” has been protected under CITES Appendix III. Alongside conservation efforts on the ground, preventing illegal or unsustainable trade in this way could provide new hope and prevent further decline of this beautiful short-tailed swallowtail. The species has been extinct in the Seychelles since 1890 and, despite being protected […]
New protections proposed for the vulnerable Small Réunion Swallowtail
Papilio phorbanta, also known as the Small Réunion Swallowtail, has been proposed for inclusion on the CITES Appendix III species listings. The listing, if successful, will come into force on 21 May 2023 and require imports and exports of Papilio phorbanta to have CITES documentation. Papilio phorbanta is now endemic to Réunion Island, a French […]