Butterfly Crossing on Taiwan Motorway
Updated : Apr 6, 2009
Taiwan officials have shut a highway lane to traffic, lowered the speed limit and put up protective nets to help a butterfly species cross the road during an annual migration.
For about a month from mid-March, thousands of milkweed butterflies — which are native to the island off China and have distinct white dots on purple brown wings — fly over a section of freeway in central Taiwan as they move northwards to breed after spending the winter in the island's warmer south.
Before the Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau took protective measures in 2007, many butterflies were hit on the highways or killed by wind from speeding vehicles. The conservation project has cost $83,000 since it was first started
"More than 10,000 butterflies will spread their wings to fly high, bravely crossing the highway, on a different kind of life-or-death journey," the bureau said in a statement, calling the migration "one of a kind."
The protective measures include a driving speed limit of 60 kilometres per hour (37 mph), blocking a two-mile stretch of the road when butterfly numbers exceed 500 per minute, and a 13-foot-high protective net guiding the insects to fly above traffic.
VeryHappyPig says it’s nice to know people care about insects, I, personally, am quite partial to the odd butterfly….. Mmmmm tasty!!