Bushfire affects butterflies

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)