
The Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing Ornithoptera alexandrae is the largest butterfly in the world, with the female’s wingspan up to 30cm. Found in Papua New Guinea, this vibrant butterfly is sadly endangered as a result of habitat loss caused by large-scale logging, expanding smallholder agriculture, and oil palm planting.
In 2017 the Swallowtail and Birdwing Butterfly Trust (SBBT) helped sustainable palm oil producer New Britain Palm Oil Ltd and the Sime Darby Foundation, with the blessing of the Provincial Government, to develop a project to try to breed Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing, with a view to releasing it into areas that it once inhabited and that can be enriched with additional foodplants.
In 2023, the Sime Darby Foundation (SDF) provided an incredibly generous grant for the project, which enabled the recruitment of a professional entomologist Dr Darren Bito, a PNG citizen who obtained his doctorate at Griffith University, Australia. Despite the challenges of accessing the area, which is only possible by air and sea, and ongoing delays following the COVID-19 pandemic, the team were able to build a new laboratory and flight cage in which to breed the species and are in the process of testing methods of ensuring breeding between the males and females released into the cage.

With SBBT’s assistance, Dr Fabien Condamine from CNRS, Montpellier, France, visited Popondetta to obtain samples to carry out genetic research on the species, including a full genome analysis of both the lowland and montane populations of Quenn Alexandra’s Birdwing. Dr Condamine concluded that the two populations are genetically identical, which is important in planning an integrated conservation strategy.
SBBT is continuing to support this important work to conserve the beautiful Alexandra’s Birdwing, and you can help by making a donation today Donate – SBBT