Closed highway for migrating butterflies

Taiwan will close a main highway to protect more than 1 million butterflies, expected to fly across this road during the migration season.

Purple butterflies, which spend winter in the south of the island, will fly about 600 meters of highways to the breeding area in the north. Many children in the herd do not arrive safely. Every year, thousands of children die in swirling air currents caused by fast vehicles, or under wheels.

Butterfly migration in Taiwan is one of two major butterfly migrations in the world.Photo: AFP .

" People need to survive with other species, even if they are tiny butterflies ," said Lee Thay-ming, from the National Highway Committee.

Taiwan officials admitted the decision to close a lane would block traffic, but said it was worthwhile.

Ecologists hope that with three uniform safeguards including closing the lane door, a protective net and ultraviolet light will increase the chance of these insects flying to the right breeding spot. The protective net is designed to force the butterflies to fly higher, avoiding being swept into the vehicle. Ultraviolet light is used below a curve to prevent them from flying too high. The cost for this is about $ 30,000.

T.An