JP\/13\/Banti<\/p>\n
Bantimurung, The Kingdom of Butterflies<\/p>\n
Andi Hajramurni
\nCorrespondent\/Ujung Pandang<\/p>\n
British zoologist Alfred Russel Wallace once called
\nBantimurung National Recreation Park the Kingdom of Butterflies.<\/p>\n
The park is home to butterflies of numerous colors, patterns
\nand sizes. They fly freely, alighting on the banks of a swimming
\nhole and flitting from place to place.<\/p>\n
For hundreds of years, Bantimurung butterflies have been
\nknown, at home and abroad, for their beauty. Several species are
\nfound only in this area. One of them is Papiio androcles, which,
\naccording to Wallace, who made an expedition to Bantimurung in
\n1856-1857, is a rare butterfly and the world's largest. During
\nthis expedition Wallace found about 270 species of living
\nbutterflies here.<\/p>\n
From the moment of your arrival in Bantimurung you will catch
\nsight of dozens of butterflies -- some brightly colored and
\nothers brown or black -- as well as children selling mounted
\nspecimens in glass frames or cardboard boxes. These mounted
\nbutterflies are sold for export in large quantities.<\/p>\n
A box containing a dozen preserved butterflies of various
\nspecies and sizes is sold for between Rp 5,000 and Rp 10,000.<\/p>\n
One repercussion of the trade is that there are less
\nbutterflies in the national park than when it first opened.
\nSome species have disappeared for good while others are very rare
\nnow.<\/p>\n
It is estimated that Bantimurung is home to some 300 species
\nof butterflies. Beddu Daeng Rewa, a resident of Bantimurung who
\nhas spent much of his life examining and naming the butterflies
\nthere, has a collection of 110 species.
\n However, many of these can only be seen in an insectarium or in
\nDaeng Rewa's private collection in his house.<\/p>\n
The number of species that have disappeared from Bantimurung
\nis not known. The Papilio androcles, which Wallace greatly
\nadmired, is believed to be extinct.<\/p>\n
Chairman of South Sulawesi's Natural Resources Conservation
\nCenter (BKSDA) Edy Purwanto said, \"It is true that some species
\nare now rare or have become extinct. That's why, part of this
\narea has been designated as a conservation site where the illegal
\ncollection of butterflies is forbidden. In this way, we will
\nensure the survival of the species now found in Bantimurung,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
One reason for the reduced number of butterflies, Eddy said,
\nwas the great number of visitors to this park. Another reason
\ncould be the limited types of vegetation as not all butterflies
\nfeed on the same plants.<\/p>\n
The theory that butterfly collection for the souvenir industry
\nis to blame is perhaps the most subscribed to. But Ahmad Affendy
\nRewa, who breeds butterflies in captivity, said if the
\nbutterflies were not caught they would die anyway as their
\nlifespan is just three weeks.<\/p>\n
\"Still, we need to breed them in captivity to ensure that the
\nbutterfly population in this conservation area does not drop. In
\nthis way, the existing species will survive,\" said Effendy, who
\nmanages the park's insectarium.<\/p>\n
Although the BKSDA has designated part of Bantimurung area as
\na conservation site, many children can be seen netting
\nbutterflies, particularly in places where they congregate.<\/p>\n
The practice of catching butterflies illegally continues as
\nnot all species -- particularly the ones popular with buyers --
\ncan be bred in captivity.<\/p>\n
While the government has allowed butterflies to be bred for
\ncommercial purposes, some of those bred in captivity, Edy said,
\nshould be set free, citing four protected species:Troides
\nhalipron, Troides helena, Troides hypolitus and Cethosia myrina.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp13banti-1447899208",
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