Bushfire affects butterflies

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: A forest fire raging near Bantimurung natural park is already affecting the habitats of various species of butterflies for which the area is famous.

Head of the local forestry office, Adjat Sudradjat, said that the heat generated by the nearby bushfire may be harming the population of butterflies in Bantimurung.

The fire in the protected forest was started deliberately early this month and has spread to over 40 hectares out of the 5,000 hectares of forests in the area.

The person responsible for starting the fire has already been arrested by the police but the motive is not yet known, Adjat said as quoted by the Antara news agency. (rms)