Butterflies of Lata Lembik (1)

It has bee awhile since I last visited Lata lembik (like almost 2 years) due to the neglect of the place but I was pleasantly surprised by its "makeover" by a private resort doing their activities there. The good thing that came out of it, the place is much cleaner, safer and well maintained. The bad thing is that they now demand entrance fee into a public area (I think it is wrong to charge people to enter public domain - a recreational forest DO NOT belong to any private resort even if they have decided to open their operations there. The worst part is, they are now starting to dredge certain parts of the river to make it "suitable' for their activities and damaging the natural eco system can be a concern, regardless of its economic impact to the local communities. Besides, the recreational forest sits on an Orang Asli land (Semai tribe) and beside the Semai girl receptionist that I noticed the 3 times I was there, no other Orang Asli were employed - meaning to say that the developpement never actually benefited the locals (the facilities are operated by a resort from a nearby area in Cheroh, Raub). I hope the relevant local authorities are aware of the situation and the operators have the necessary permits before anything "grave" happens and blames start flying (the operators propose flying fox, white water rafting and absailing). 

Well, worries aside, I was actually there to try my new camera on my favourite subject: butterflies. This site is actually one of the remaining sites where the Common Birdwing is common (no longer a common butterfly in the wild, maybe one day we will have to rename the Common Birdwing to the Uncommon Birdwing)  and I have yet to capture a good shot of it... Here are the results nevertherless...

The Grass Demon, a tiny skipper butterfly.

A very nervous subject, the Royal Assyrian, Terinos terpander. This butterfly has a restless movement and seldom stay put for more than a few seconds.

Euripus nyctelius euploeoides

The Commander, Moduza procris milonia

View of the "updated" albeit commercialized Lata Lembik...hope it won't be another disaster like Lata Jarum- used, abused and later abandonned to die a natural death (so déjà vu in Malaysia) .

A tiny danaid butterfly - Euploe eunice

Athyama spp.

A resting Chocolate Albatross, Appias lyncida vasava

Tent for rent at RM 50 a day...

The Common Mormon, Papilio polytes romulus

A Banded Peacock, Papilio palinurus palinurus