In an attempt to conserve the endangered species of Birdwing butterflies in Lanyu, the local authorities set up a special butterfly garden last year, offering a friendlier environment for these rare insects.

And their efforts are likely to pay off in August, when the number of new adult Birdwing butterflies is estimated to exceed one thousand in the area.

The Birdwing butterfly flaps its wings in order to make them dry and strong, before it starts another chapter of its life.

The indigenous species from Lanyu belongs to the Birdwing Classification because its wings looks just like bird's wings. The colors on its wings include red, white, yellow, and black. It also ranked No.1 in the 2007 top 10 beautiful butterfly contest.

However, the beautiful insect is becoming an endangered species, with the number declining over the years. It was partly a result of the negligence from the Dawu tribe living in Lanyu, who believe that butterflies are one of the evil spirits in their mythology.

Still, the main cause that pushed the butterflies toward extinction is the massive human development that damaged the butterfly's habitats, and the special plant that caterpillars feed on. The number of Birdwing butterflies is around 700 to 800, with some of them having turned into pupas.

But with the Township Office's effort in the conservation work, the number of the butterfly is gradually rising. The officials said that the current number of the endangered species is around 1,000, and people are expected to see a great number of butterflies in July and August.