How butterflies are saving East Africa's largest coastal forest

Abbas Athman at his butterfly farm bordering Arabuko-Sokoke forest in Kilifi. [Caroline Chebet, Standard]

From afar, it looks like a game revolving around a tree. It begins with a tiptoe, seek, ambush then hurrah! for a successful catch inside a sweep net.

It is the mastery to dart with the butterflies in East Africa’s largest coastal forest that makes locals to ‘collect money from trees.’ 

Arabuko-Sokoke Forest in Kilifi is home to endangered animals, but it is the butterfly export project that has given locals a lifeline.