Taiwan Shuts Highway for Butterflies

Taiwan is to close one lane of a major highway to protect more than a million butterflies, which cross the road on their seasonal migration. The purple milkweed butterfly only one of two mass butterfly movements worldwide

Ecologists hope that lane closure, protective nets and ultra-violet lighting will all dramatically increase the milkweed’s chances of reaching the breeding ground. The protective nets are also designed to force the butterflies to fly higher, reducing the chances of them getting caught in the traffic Ultra-violet lighting will be used below an elevated section of road to encourage the butterflies to head beneath.

In total the measures are estimated to have cost in the region of £15,000.