Butterfly Sanctuary officially opened

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MOSSEL BAY NEWS AND VIDEO - The Western Cape Butterfly Sanctuary (WCBS) is a unique conservation effort between Ruiterbosch Lodge and the CBISA (Conservation of Butterflies In South Africa).

The sanctuary, a first of its kind in the Western Cape and only the second in South Africa, was officially opened today, 18 November by Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer.

Louis Nel, a driving force behind the project said that the idea was conceived during lockdown int 2020. Nel, a resident of Ruiterbos for the past seven years, said that a butterfly reserve plays a significant role in the managing environmental issues affecting these beautiful insects.

“In their natural habitat, only 3% of butterfly eggs will become develop into adult butterflies. In a sanctuary, the odds are almost 100%. Ten percent of the butterflies bred at the sanctuary, totalling 400-500 will be released back into nature,” says Nel.

PHOTO GALLERY: Butterfly Sanctuary opened

Ultimately the sanctuary will house 4000 butterflies, representing over 50 different local species, among them the rarest of butterflies in the world. This will include the Ramsgate Piper, of which there are only 16 individual specimens known to exist.

Once completed, the sanctuary which will include a second phase housing a breeding centre, it is envisaged to be the largest butterfly sanctuary in the Southern Hemisphere and possibly the world.

VIDEO: Butterfly Sanctuary officially opened