Monday 19 September 2016

Otters and tropical butterflies

Emerald Swallowtail, Papilio palinurus
On Friday we returned from a week in south Devon where we and had a great time. On September 10 and 11th I attended an Earthworm identification course at the Slapton Field Study Centre. On September 13th we visited the Otter sanctuary and butterfly farm at Buckfastleigh. Otters, mainly cubs, are rescued from the Dart watershed, looked after and released where possible. There are also Asian Short-Clawed Otters and North American River Otters taken in from other reserves. 
  The founder is dedicated to otters and does a wonderful job. His tour at feeding time is an education. They plan to receive two South American Giant River Otters from a facility in Japan that is closing. They also take in unwanted reptiles and amphibians. There is a tropical butterfly house within the facility, which  is adjacent to the steam railway terminus.
  We found a wonderful place for lunch in the town centre – The Singing Kettle Tearooms, excellent chef and staff. I had shepherds pie, Sue has the veggie version, both with really tasty vegetables. There is a cheap car park nearby.
African Clawed Frog, Xenopus laevis

Asian Short-Clawed Otters, Amblonyx cinereus
Asian Short-Clawed Otters
Asian Short-Clawed Otter
Asian Short-Clawed Otters
Axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum
Bearded Dragon, Pogona vitticeps
Leopard Lacewing, Cethosia cyane
Common Crow, Euploea core
Flame, Dryas julia

Flame

Flame
mating Flames
Flame


Tailed Jay, Graphium agamemnon
Tailed Jay
Tailed Jay

Green Iguana, Iguana iguana
Green Iguana, Iguana iguana
Zebra Longwing, Heliconius charithonia,
Zebra Longwing

Zebra Longwing

Postman, Heliconius melpomene
Postman
Postman
Tree Nymphs, Idea leuconoe
Orange Oakleaf, Kallima inachus
A nectaring flower found in tropical butterfly houses
Blue Morpho, Morpho peleides
This huge butterfly is a favourite in these butterfly houses. This was the only one present.
Blue Morpho
Blue Morpho
North American River Otters, Lontra canadensis
North American River Otters
North American River Otters
North American River Otters
European Otters, Lutra lutra
European Otters
European Otters
European Otter
European Otters
European Otter
European Otters
Asian Swallowtail, Papilio lowi
Black and White Helen, Papilio nephelus
Clipper, Parthenos sylvia
Clipper
Clipper
Clipper



Red-eared Terrapin, Trachemys scripta elegans
Siproeta stelenes, Malachite
pupae
turtle
turtles
turtle

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