As the Covid-19 lockdown eases, the first tropical butterflies from the Philippines for more than four months have been released at the Otago Museum’s Tropical Forest.
The museum earlier stepped in to protect its butterfly suppliers in the Philippines from the "financially devastating" effects of the lockdown after the butterfly houses throughout the world that they had been supplying closed their doors.
It made advance payments of half the usual monthly amounts during the lockdown, and this will be repaid once suppliers are back on their feet.
The Philippines usually provides up to 85% of the forest’s butterflies, but since the museum’s own lockdown ended in May, almost all of its butterflies have come from Costa Rica.
This country usually provides only about 15% of the butterflies but extra supplies were obtained to keep the forest operating.
Ben Sorby was visiting from Christchurch with his son Vola (5) yesterday and said it was "awesome" to see the biggest release of butterflies from the Philippines since the first shipment arrived this week.
Museum living environments officer Dr Anthony Stumbo said the forest now had at least 500 butterflies and supply was returning to normal.
