The Customs jeep carrying guards sped toward Ragama on June 26. Such raids are not uncommon these days, but the team from the Customs’ Biodiversity Unit was on a different mission that day. They were looking for butterflies.

Caterpillars of Blue Mormon

An address written on a small piece of paper took them to an ordinary-looking house. But at the sight of the guards, those in the house panicked and hurriedly tried to hide equipment and documents in the backyard. A search revealed the evidence the team was looking for and the main suspect.

Close to the house was a well maintained butterfly garden. Officers of the Customs and the Flying Squad of the Department of Wildlife who entered the illegal enclosure found beautiful butterflies including the Blue Mormon, Common Crow and Crimson Rose. The host plants and nectar plants seemed to be especially grown for breeding certain species of butterflies. Butterfly breeders usually separate the eggs and raise the butterflies in containers until the larvae mature into cocoons. The cocoon stage goes on for about two weeks and it is during this time that the butterflies are smuggled out of the country as the cocoons are small and easy to conceal.

This current episode in the butterfly smuggling racket came to light about three months ago when a parcel of 200 butterfly cocoons that was to be sent abroad via parcel mail was discovered. It had been eaten by rats and Customs thus found the cocoons that were to be sent to Britain. The exporter had avoided detection by giving a false address. The Customs’ Biodiversity Unit continued the search and after a few unsuccessful raids got the tip-off they were looking for. They rushed to Ragama and found the breeder.

“The evidence we found proves that the export of butterflies has been going on for sometime now,” the Chief Preventive Officer and head of the Customs Biodiversity Unit, Samantha Gunasekera said. The team found duplicates of bills that carried details of over 200 shipments. It is suspected that the culprit had been carrying out this operation for some time now. About four years back, he was nabbed for keeping Tarantulas illegally.

A Crimson Rose butterfly found in Ragama

The alleged breeder had been on high-profile research teams and is believed to have extensive knowledge of these species. His name is included in some research papers as well. There is speculation though that many who benefited from the business are still at large. The Biodiversity Unit is working on the case together with the Department of Wildlife.

Butterfly smuggling is widespread around the world, fuelled by demand from butterfly collectors, eager to have rare species in their possession. Earlier, collecting butterfly specimens was a popular pastime like stamp collecting and though interest has waned in this hobby, there are still collectors in countries like UK, Germany and USA.

Other than the collectors of the dead specimens, there are many foreign breeders who raise butterflies and sell them to other butterfly gardens.

Breeding, keeping and exporting of butterflies or moths without permission is illegal according to the Flora and Fauna Ordinance. The Department of Wildlife Conservation’s ‘Flying Squad’ is on the lookout for illegal butterfly breeders across the country.

The head of the DWLC Flying Squad Upali Padmasiri appeals for public support to track down those who keep butterflies and other animals illegally. Members of the public are urged to call their hotline 1991 with any information.