The Otago Museum's single credit card was recently used to
buy more butterfly pupae from Costa Rica, after usual
supplies from the Philippines for the museum's Tropical
Forest attraction were interrupted by a heatwave.
In the financial year ending June 30, spending via the credit
card amounted to about $56,000.
About $24,000 of that was for butterfly pupae from Costa
Rica, museum officials said.
After the heatwave hit the Philippines between February and
May, more butterflies had to be sourced from Costa Rica to
ensure security of supply, as well as to maintain a variety
of butterfly species.
The forest is home to about 1000 brightly-coloured tropical
butterflies.
Card-related spending had risen somewhat from about $20,000
in 2006-2007, officials said.
Museum exhibitions, development and planning director Clare
Wilson said the museum had only one credit card, which was
rigorously controlled and required several signatures before
it could be used.
The card was used only when there was no practical
alternative, and to enable the museum to gain cost-effective
deals by buying through the internet.
Recently released figures show the forest remains popular and
financially sound, despite a predicted big drop in attendance
after the initial boom year in which more than 160,000 people
attended.
About 70,000 people attended the museum's Discovery World
science centre, which includes the forest facility, in the
financial year ending on June 30.
In April, the Otago Museum Trust Board reviewed financial and
attendance figures and agreed the forest should continue to
operate next year, after an initial trial period starting in
2007.
Draft figures recently tabled at the board's latest meeting
show admissions income amounted to $445,402, which was
$104,598 less than budgeted.
But spending was also below budget, including for supply of
butterfly pupae, which was nearly $12,000 below the $80,000
budget.
Ms Wilson said the forest remained popular, and careful
cost-management had contributed to the sound finances.
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