Sanctuary

Once we reached Kuranda we decided to split up. I went to the butterfly sanctuary, and Duncan went to the Venom Zoo. This is particularly daring on two counts - 1. we make to make a rendezvous at a certain time, and 2. I am well known for my inability to cope with birds flapping inside - how would I cope with Butterflies??? I was entranced from the moment I entered the enclosure! The butterflies are feed syrup from large white discs with artificial stamen on them.

As you can see they are quite large. Why a sanctuary? Butterflies only lay their eggs on one specific plant - a bit like the monarch butterfly and swan plant, so this enclosure is full of plants that each species likes. As the landscape has been farmed or forested in other trees, these particular trees have been destroyed leading to the reduction in habitat for butterflies to lay their eggs on. The caterpillars are voracious feeders and in terms of body weight its like a 6month old baby having eaten 9 elephants!!!!!

The Ulysses butterfly with the iridescent blue wings looked fabulous when it was flying, but the wings folded together when they were at rest so it was very hard to get a good shot of them. Attached to the butterfly enclosure is a museum with all the different types on display.

Each day they collect up any laying of eggs they can identify and they are removed to the nursery where the lepidopterists made sure that they had enough of the correct sort of leaf to chew on. They are allowed to stay in the nursery until after they have spent time in the chrysalis hatched out, and then they need about 24 hours until their wings dry out. Then they put them in the enclosure. I was lucky enough to be there just after a release.

It isn't long before they start to get a bit raggedy. How long they last depends on how much flying they do. Some last a few days, others live for about 9 months.

A great place to visit and the rendezvous with Duncan occured without a hitch!