avatar image

Rare ‘chestnut tiger’ butterfly flies from Japan to Hong Kong

Published: 
Listen to this article

Butterfly found in Repulse Bay set a new world record for the longest migration of its species.

SCMP |
Published: 
Comment

Latest Articles

How can Hong Kong teens stress less and what apps are available?

Your Voice: A pet-friendly city, the beauty of anime and saving traditional literature (short letters)

Your Voice: Thunderbolts* film review and sex education in Hong Kong (long letters)

Family happiness in Hong Kong has risen but still falls short of pre-pandemic levels

Write to Win (Round 4): What will schools be like in 50 years?

Help! Can I stop my classmate from copying my work without losing friends?

Researchers discovered a chestnut tiger butterfly from Japan, which set a world record with a 3,000km migration to Hong Kong. Photo: Ling Yuet-fung

Researchers in Hong Kong have discovered that a rare butterfly has flown 3,000km (1,864 miles) from Japan. It set a new world record for the longest migration recorded for the species.

The butterfly is called the chestnut tiger, or Parantica sita. It was found in Repulse Bay by Ling Yuet-fung, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Hong Kong’s School of Biological Sciences.

A tag on its wing bore Japanese characters and the date August 18. The date indicates that it had been tagged and released in Fukushima four months earlier.

The adult male chestnut tiger was found to be at least 124 days old. It had travelled more than 3,000km, setting a record for the longest known migration of the species.

The species is known for long-distance migration. Marking or tagging their wings provides data about their movements, including distance travelled, flight path and lifespan.

The latest flight set a new distance record for the species and marked only the third time such a butterfly had been detected migrating from Japan to Hong Kong.

Ling released the butterfly back into the wild after recording its data.

It remains unclear whether Hong Kong was its final destination.

Sign up for the YP Teachers Newsletter
Get updates for teachers sent directly to your inbox
By registering, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy
Comment