During the eight-week Level 4 and 3 restrictions, many butterflies survived the first six weeks, but then about 90% died, as a usual part of their life-cycle.
The museum was closed to the public throughout the eight weeks but Dr Stumbo and science communicator Catriona Gower visited each day, ensuring the butterflies and other creatures living there, including quail and turtles, were cared for, he said.
Between 50 and 100 butterflies — a mixture from both the Philippines and Costa Rica — survived the eight weeks.
About 150 to 200 butterflies, some with the wing span of a small bird, are now flying in the forest.
The population is also rising again through the progressive release of 440 butterflies, including many striking blue morphos, which were flown in late last week.
The forest’s original supply was from the Philippines, but that source remained under Covid-19 lockdown and no supplies were available.
Access to Costa Rica provided greater security of supply and he was excited to see numbers rising again, and the public responding positively.
