A campaign to select an official butterfly for Keelung is under way, with results expected by the end of the year.
The mountainous city is home to at least 169 species found by the Wild Bird Society of Keelung and the Butterfly Conservation Society of Taiwan, the latter’s director Lee Chia-ling (李佳陵) said.
So far, six species are under consideration, Wild Bird Society of Keelung chairman Shen Chin-fung (沈錦豐) said, adding that most are closely related to Keelung, including those with a large population or that were discovered there, those that migrate there and those dependent on the local ecology.
Photo courtesy of the Wild Bird Society of Keelung
To suggest species, the bird society plans to consult Hsu Yu-feng (徐堉峰), a National Taiwan Normal University biology professor and butterfly authority, Shen said.
The bird society then plans to design an introductory pamphlet featuring the nominees, with attached ballots and questionnaires, he said, adding that voters could submit remarks with their votes.
With support and funding from Keelung’s education authority, the bird society in July is to launch a five-month school tour to educate students about butterfly ecology and encourage voter turnout, he said, adding that it plans to start training touring lecturers in June.
Photo: courtesy of the Wild Bird Society of Keelung
Ballots can be picked up at City Hall and district offices, he added.
The current candidates are the large faun (Faunis eumeus); the pale clouded yellow (Colias erate formosana); Satyrium formosanum; Naga white (Pieris naganum); Talbotia naganum; and the paper kite (Chilasa epycides).
Photo: courtesy of the Wild Bird Society of Keelung
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