Kinabalu Birdwing (Troides andromache) : Photo Murphy Ng On 13th September 2026 we celebrate the 3rd year anniversary of the Kinabalu Birdwing (Troides andromache) being officially declared as Sabah’s State Butterfly. To find out more about how SBBT were involved in this project please visit here. Here is the English translation of the official Sabah […]
Saving swallowtail and birdwing butterflies
SBBT Rejects “Misguided” Views on Conservation of the British Swallowtail.
The Swallowtail and Birdwing Butterfly Trust (SBBT) challenges the conclusions of a recent review by Ingate (1) calling for radical new strategies in managing the British Swallowtail butterfly, Papilio machaon britannicus. The Trust first addressed this issue at a 2018 workshop, which identified sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion in the UK’s Norfolk Broads as the […]
On thin ice: Cryopreservation attempts to conserve the British Swallowtail
Britain is home to only one native species of Swallowtail – the iconic subspecies the British Swallowtail Papilio machaon britannicus. It is Britain’s largest butterfly and a symbol for its home region, the Norfolk Broads. Unfortunately, this has not protected the species from population decline and habitat restriction. Due to changes in habitat management and significant drying of vast areas of land to […]
The Quest for Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing
Artist, naturalist and vet, John Gale, shares his account of his adventures to Papua New Guinea in search of the magnificent Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing butterfly, the inspiration behind his beautiful Ornithoptera alexandrae print. Three years ago I met up with Charles Dewhurst, SBBT’s first Secretary, who arranged for me to visit Papua New Guinea (PNG) […]
Supporters & Collaborators
Our Mission
The mission of the Swallowtail and Birdwing Butterfly Trust is to conserve and protect members of the Papilionidae, a worldwide family of more than 580 species that include the largest, most spectacular and most endangered butterflies on the planet.
Aims
SBBT aims to build the capacity of local people and organisations to achieve long-lasting conservation and sustainable change.
Methods
We achieve this in four ways: we raise financial resources; convene research networks and partnerships; catalyse action, and provide scientific and technical support to conservation projects.
Wider Reach
Our work is generally planned and executed in the context of wider butterfly faunas, their foodplants, and the ecosystems that they inhabit.
Giving
Financial contributions are welcome and will be treasured. We also need your ideas, new information, suggestions and encouragement!
What We Do
We do four things to help swallowtails and birdwings: we raise financial resources; convene networks and partnerships; catalyse action, and provide scientific and technical support.
Papilio! Newsletter
