THE PATH TO HEAVEN

By Sanuli Gamage.

Adam’s Peak is a sacred mountain in Sri Lanka where Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Muslims all journey. Another name for this historic mountain is ‘Samanala Kanda’ or ‘Butterfly Mountain’. It was given this name as it is the location where the butterflies on the island travel in large quantities. Approximately 20 years ago, the swarm of butterflies flying towards the peak was a visible and picturesque view, however, recent times have seen only a few stragglers flying to the top.

Butterflies and moths are natural indicators of how well or poorly our environment is doing, and it's clear that something is most definitely wrong. Seeing a butterfly or moth shouldn't be a rare thing, but 80% of butterflies have declined since the 1970s grouping them among the most threatened groups of wildlife.

The rapid decrease for these species is habitat destruction and degradation. Cutting trees alters the light intensity, and the use of chemicals for cultivation alters water, soil, and lastly, the chemical composition of flora and fauna which will directly influence the life cycle of the butterfly. Climate change and global warming also play a part in the decrease of butterflies. These unexpected changes are a major threat to the early stages of the butterfly life cycle - the egg, larva, and pupa.

Butterflies contribute to the ecological balance of the environment, mainly through pollination. One popular conservation method is Butterfly Gardening where suitable conditions are provided for butterflies in urban environments. The key approach is to provide them with larval food plants and nectar plants that are rid of fertilizers and pesticides. This method of conservation can be done by anyone and must be made a priority.

One notable project is the urban butterfly park in the Western region of Sri Lanka. Created on the site that was once a garbage dump, a conservationist and a private organisation converted the once stinky marsh into a beautiful garden home to over 60 species of butterflies. 

The waning population of butterflies is not acceptable and we must do everything we can to conserve these vital creatures.