
BNPS_RareCaterpillarsStolenFromNatureReserve_04.JPG


BNPs.co.uk (01202 558833)
Pic: JaneRyan/NWT/BNPS
Hickling Estate Worker Jon Wheeler at the site where the caterpillars were stolen from.
Police are investigating after some exceptionally rare caterpillars that turn into Britain's largest butterfly were stolen from a nature reserve.
Around 20 swallowtail butterfly caterpillars that were feeding on the scarce milk parsley plant were swiped from Hickling Broad in Norfolk.
Brazen thieves uprooted five of the internationally protected plants in order to acquire the caterpillars and subsequent Swallowtail butterflies, which are prized by collectors.
Killed and mounted examples of the beautiful creature can be worth £100 while some unlawful hobbyists seek them for breeding because of their rarity.
Pic: JaneRyan/NWT/BNPS
Hickling Estate Worker Jon Wheeler at the site where the caterpillars were stolen from.
Police are investigating after some exceptionally rare caterpillars that turn into Britain's largest butterfly were stolen from a nature reserve.
Around 20 swallowtail butterfly caterpillars that were feeding on the scarce milk parsley plant were swiped from Hickling Broad in Norfolk.
Brazen thieves uprooted five of the internationally protected plants in order to acquire the caterpillars and subsequent Swallowtail butterflies, which are prized by collectors.
Killed and mounted examples of the beautiful creature can be worth £100 while some unlawful hobbyists seek them for breeding because of their rarity.
©JaneRyan/NWT 12 Jul 2017 3054x4113 / 2.2MB