Story Of Butterflies In Langkawi Malaysia

Herona marathus angustata




Take a stroll anywhere in Langkawi, chances are that you
might be lucky enough to come across a butterfly.
It can be seen in any location, be it along a forest trail,
by a stream at the foot of a hill or circling around a typical
kampong garden. As a young child growing up in the
Cameron Highlands, I had the pleasure and opportunity
 to observe butterflies in their own environment,
truly the darlings of the insect world. I watched them in awe,
blinded by the magic of the meek and at the same time
powerful butterflies, in various stages of their lives.
I then realized that I have inherited a legacy that I feel was
a responsibility for me to carry and safeguard, rather than
a mere passing of knowledge that I believed some of us
might undervalue




Now as an adult, I have made it my personal crusade to educate
our society on the significance and importance of these graceful
creatures. I am doing my very best to study and gather information
on them, however small that the details might be. I am sad to say
that with only a handful of us and the lack of time, we are
racing neck to neck against deforestation, made in the name of
development. Butterflies thrive in the cradle of Mother Nature
but mankind has been very much instrumental in, how shall I put it,
 ensuring that it is “survival of the fittest”, as the saying goes...

We should be educated and enlightened on what the impact
that this full scale assault on nature could bring. The message
that I am stressing on also goes out to all aspects of nature
in general. I am glad to say that there are still some people
out there who are dedicating their whole life for a worthy
cause, to ensure that the preservation of different parts
of nature goes on, to counter the effects of deforestation.
We hope to be able to gain more friends in the future,
who will see that the beauty of nature is actually
a God-given gift to all of earth’s residents, regardless
of species. The age-old question of whether humans can
live side by side with nature can actually be answered,
if only we can keep within our hearts some
space for the environment.

All the knowledge that I have gained will be essential in ensuring

that the future generation might have a more solid foundation to

latch on to, when it comes to the appreciation and understanding

of this species. I will be very happy, if I am able to leave

a small mark in this world and remembered by others who share

the same dreams and passion as me.This thought is also dedicated to those who will come to love butterflies.

As a very old saying goes, ”we did not inherit the earth from our

ancestors but we only borrowed it from our children”.

We must ensure that the future generation might have the

same opportunity to enjoy butterflies and nature,

just as their forefathers did. I might not know much

of anything else but at least I have found a few

good reasons to make my precious life a bit more

colourful, like the wings of the fragile but

rainbow-hued butterfly, flying in a scene of serenity, waiting to be discovered by you and me.



Let us all spread our wings and fly without any reason or doubt,

for then we might be able to know and feel what it is like

to be in that similar dream-like existence.

From a child of nature…

Selvam Raman