1 week Ago
“Butterflies are self-propelled flowers.” — Robert A. HeinleinAs I gazed at the beaming young faces, I wondered what the world would be like without butterflies.
I was trying to be invisible inside the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s Butterfly Jungle exhibit to watch the reaction of those entering for the first time.It was not just the youngsters who were beaming.Even the adults, me included, could not resist a broad smile when a large, fluttering common blue morpho or a delicate Doris longwing landed on their arm or shoulder.
Even Jim Lotz, one of the Safari Park’s wildlife care specialists, could not stifle a giggle as one of the iridescent blue butterflies landed on his ear.A blue morpho butterfly lands on Jim Lotz, one of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s wildlife care specialists. (Ernie Cowan / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)Butterflies are magic.
The dozen or so young faces enjoying the Butterfly Jungle were enthralled by this magical place and the delicate creatures they were interacting with.In urban centers throughout the world there are likely millions who have never seen the beauty of a butterfly or spent time in natural places where they roam free, adding a magical dimension to the natural world.The Butterfly Jungle has become a highly anticipated exhibit at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park each spring.
(Ernie Cowan / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)We are doubly fortunate to have the Safari Park offering this annual exhibit for visitors to enjoy along with preserved open spaces throughout the region where butterflies can be found in their native habitats.The Butterfly Jungle has become a highly anticipated exhibit at the Safari Park each spring when hundreds of butterflies are introduced for visitors to enjoy.It was early and the morning was a bit chilly when I entered the Hidden Jungle aviary that typically hosts tropical birds.
Butterflies are cold blooded and need external heat to fly, and like people they were still a bit sluggish until the morning sunshine began to warm things up or they had the first sips of nectar.Bright clothing also seems to attract the butterflies as they land on colored caps, shirts or the jackets of delighted visitors.Entry into the exhibit is carefully controlled, with visitors passing through double doors to prevent butterflies from escaping.
Visits are 20 minutes, but that is plenty of time to marvel at the beauty, take photos or simply be overjoyed by the experience.It was also one of the most enchanting 20 minutes of my life.A malachite butterfly.
(Ernie Cowan / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)The enclosure itself is a paradise of tropical plants, but add the beauty of butterflies and it becomes a very special place.There was a kind of reverence as people entered, speaking softly at first, but soon squeals and giggles erupted when visitors were overtaken by joy and wonder as they discovered the fluttering creatures that seemed happy to greet them.The enclosure is then cleared and prepared for the next group of visitors, with animal care specialists taking particular care to make sure no butterflies have escaped.
The Butterfly Jungle will be available through April 20, when the aviary will return as a tropical bird enclosure.For more information on the butterfly exhibit, visit sdzsafaripark.org/butterfly-jungle.
According to zoo experts, butterflies and moths are one of the largest animal groups on the planet and are foundational to the success of many other species. While they are pollinators, they are also a key piece of the food web, having a profound impact on ecosystems worldwide.A giant owl butterfly.
(Ernie Cowan / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)Major threats to butterflies include habitat loss, extended drought, and climate shifts.But work to preserve and restore butterfly ecosystems by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is not limited to a few weeks each spring.The organization leads the way in active conservation efforts of endangered butterflies right here in San Diego County.
The Quino checkerspot and Laguna Mountains skipper are part of that effort.Each spring, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance scientists collect female butterflies locally where they lay eggs at the Butterfly Conservation Lab at the San Diego Zoo.When larvae are hatched, they are reared under protected conditions and then released at suitable locations.
This process, known as “headstarting,” improves survival rates during a highly vulnerable life stage and provides valuable data to conservation scientists.This effort has resulted in the release of more than 16,000 Quino checkerspots since 2016 and 800 Laguna Mountains skippers since 2021.Laguna Mountains skippers are extremely rare, with only one population left residing in the Palomar Mountain area in San Diego County.
Additionally, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance works with partners to support initiatives with western monarch butterflies and serves as vice program leader of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and Saving Animals from Extinction North American Monarch program, established in 2019.That’s a story for another day.After watching the joy on the faces of visitors to the Butterfly Jungle, I’m thankful for the zoo’s efforts to ensure we have a world where youngsters can marvel at these self-propelled flowers.
Cowan is a freelance columnist. Email [email protected] or visit erniesoutdoors.
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