News, Photos, Story Human Rights, Culture, Poltics, Economy

Britain builds biggest butterfly sanctuary


Published: March 13, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Print story
Email to a friend
Font size:
ST. ALBANS, England, March 13 (UPI) -- Two prominent British naturalists collaborated this week to plan the construction of the largest butterfly safe-house in the world, a report said.

Sir David Attenborough and David Bellamy said the more than $50 million "Butterfly World" project is necessary to save the species from severe decline, The Times of London reported.

"Butterfly World is designed to bring the public into direct contact with some of the most fragile and beautiful wildlife in the world and send out a clarion call on behalf of this endangered treasure," said Clive Farrell, who pioneered the idea for the project.

More than 75 percent of the 54 butterfly species in Britain reportedly have fallen in numbers during the past two decades, with many in serious danger of extinction.

The Butterfly World biodome, built near St. Albans, will contain 100,000 tropical species and will attract a projected 1 million people a year after its 2011 completion, the Times reported.

© 2008 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
Print story
Order reprints
Email to a friend
Post comment
See Also:
» Next in Science: RNA short strand protects against bacteria

CYCLONE MYANMUR
In this image from NASA's Atmospheric Infrared Sounder instrument on NASA's Aqua spacecraft, Cyclone Nargis is pictured when it was a Category one hurricane located 370 miles west of Yangon, Myanmar on May 1, 2008. Tropical Cyclone Nargis flooded the region on May 4, 2008. The death toll from the cyclone and its aftermath is feared to hit or exceed 100,000 lives. (UPI Photo/NASA/MODIS Rapid Response Team)
NASA satellite images show Tropical Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar
Full Photo | Slideshow