Daten aus Quellen wie der Europäischen Roten Liste der Schmetterlinge weisen auf negative Trends bei der Zahl der Insekten in Europa hin; bei über 30 % der Taxa ist ein Rückgang zu verzeichnen. Einer der am stärksten bedrohten Schmetterlinge in Europa ist Parnassius apollo. Seine Zahl ist in den letzten 25 Jahren um 20-50 % zurückgegangen.
Das Ziel dieses internationalen Projekts ist die Wiederherstellung der Parnassius apollo-Populationenin den Sudeten, Weißen Karpaten und in den österreichischen Alpen.
Das Erste seiner Art
Im Rahmen des Projekts werden drei zusätzliche Zuchtfarmen und drei neue Funktionsbereiche geschaffen, um die Populationen unter natürlichen Bedingungen zu stärken, sowie mindestens 38 “Trittsteinstandorte” , um die Migrationskorridore der Arten zwischen den neuen Standorten zu sichern. Das Projekt ist daher das erste, das Test- und Pilotmaßnahmen zur weiteren Populationsentwicklung in den Projektregionen durchführt:
- Wiederherstellung von Populationen in Polen und Tschechien und Stärkung der österreichischen Population in den Alpen
- Schaffung einer kohärenten Methodik für den Schutz von Apollo-Faltern
- Verbesserung der Lebensraumqualität der Art, z. B. durch den Schutz von Bruthabitaten und Futterplätzen
- Schaffung ökologischer Korridore
- Sensibilisierung für die Erhaltung und Pflege der Lebensräume und der Arten
- Stärkung der gesellschaftlichen Beteiligung am Artenschutz
We’re thrilled to have had our passionate volunteers—Wiktoria, Sylwia, and Ola—take part in the LIFE Apollo2020 volunteering program, developed by KPN and KP in Poland. This initiative focused on the active protection of the Apollo butterfly and spreading awareness through educational activities. They conducted field monitoring at reintroduction sites, tagged captured specimens, educated the public, and had a fantastic time doing it! We’re proud of their hard work and dedication.
Credits to @faunatycy_kolozoologowus.🤩
#LIFEApollo2020 #LIFEproject #LIFEprogramme #Parnassiusapollo #ApolloButterfly #volunteering #Poland
On Saturday at the Bartolomej Fair in the House of Nature, our Czech partner Educational and Information Center of the White Carpathians had the exciting opportunity to showcase our beautiful butterfly Parnassius apollo.🦋 They demonstrated the amazing transformation from a tiny caterpillar into a stunning butterfly, and revealed what it looks like when those distinctive "red eyes" first open to the world. 🌍
#LIFEApollo2020 #LIFEproject #LIFEprogramme #parnassiusapollo #apollobutterfly #missionbutterly #followapollo #VIS
🌄 In June, the Krkonoše Mountains briefly became a refuge for the rare red-eyed Apollo butterfly, which disappeared from Czech nature nearly a hundred years ago. This iconic Ice Age relic faces significant threats due to habitat loss and climate change. Our colleagues in the Krkonoše region have therefore restored an environment where the Apollo butterfly could thrive.
🦋 A total of 100 male Apollos were released into this environment, which raised some concerns. Critics feared that the males would search for females and leave the area, potentially distorting the project’s results.
🕵️♂️ However, data from monitoring showed that these concerns were unfounded. The male butterflies stayed on site and exhibited typical behavior, including patrolling and territorial battles. Monitoring confirmed positive results, showing that the males remained vital for a long time and adapted well to their new environment.
✅ In short, the monitoring showed excellent results, and we can consider the management phase of the project focused on adult butterflies a success (though it’s not yet finished!). But that’s not all—we still need to ensure there’s enough space for the Apollo`s host plants. This is another reason why we haven’t fully released the butterflies yet; everything must be perfect to ensure this demanding butterfly thrives in the Krkonoše Mountains.
❤️ The main partner in restoring Krkonoše habitats, not only for the red-eyed Apollo but also for many other sensitive species, is the ŠKODA AUTO Endowment Fund. This year’s rescue breeding was also supported by the Tipsport Foundation—thank you! 🤍
#LIFEApollo2020 #LIFEproject #LIFEprogramme #parnassiusapollo #apollobutterfly #followapollo #citizenscience #inaturalist
🐛🦋Even though the main monitoring season is coming to an end, you still have a chance to spot Apollo butterflies in some places in Austria! Whether you`re on vacation or live nearby, you might encounter these incredible creatures in our high-elevation project areas, such as Virgen, Hinterbichl, or Mörtschach. Based on last year’s data from enthusiastic Citizen Scientists (check out their great photos), you might also find them at the following locations in Austria, where they were still flying in August:
🌄Potential Spots:
• Weißenbachtal, Oberösterreich
• Gmunden Traunstein, Oberösterreich
• Schöckl, Steiermark
• Loseralm, Steiermark
• Ötscher, Niederösterreich
• Langau Scheiblingstein, Niederösterreich
Thanks to our ongoing collaboration with @bluehendesoesterreich, these observations are documented through their Schmetterlinge Österreich app. All the great photos you see are from this platform.
Don’t forget, we are also collecting information on stonecrop sightings in Czechia and both Apollo and stonecrop observations in Poland. If you spot any of these, please add your findings to our ArcGIS surveys (https://mail.kpnmab.pl/niepylak) and @inaturalistorg (search for `LIFE Citizen Science for Parnassius apollo`).
Your careful observation helps us protect Apollo`s habitat. And if you haven’t yet joined our Citizen Science community, now is the perfect time to get involved!
#CitizenScience #LIFEApollo2020 #LIFEprogramme #followapollo #NatureConservation #BlühendesÖsterreich #SchmetterlingeÖsterreich #inaturalist #ArcGISsurveys
