My tropical friend

Otago Museum science communicator and university student George Fitzgerald (22) experiences a close encounter with an Asian swallowtail butterfly at the museum's Tropical Forest butterfly house.

Mr Fitzgerald said he enjoyed interacting with the butterflies and meeting visitors to the display.

''When they open the door and see the view of the forest and they come in, it does seem to make them very excited and enthusiastic,'' he said.

Butterflies were usually released each day at 11am, but on weekends, and during school holidays, there was a second release, at 1.30pm.