Poaching Butterflies

Large Blue Butterfly
Photo: PJC&Co, Wikimedia Commons

Poaching brings to mind elephant tusks and exotic African mammals. However, any animal that can be sold is subject to poaching. Recently, Phillip Cullen of Bristol in the UK was found guilty of illegally collecting protected butterflies and chasing butterflies in protected nature preserves. He had many trays of butterflies in his home of protected or endangered species. Unscrupulous collectors can greatly reduce populations and damage conservation effort. Most serious collectors understand and follow the rules and discourage the scofflaws.