In what is considered a rare occurrence, the white-edged rock brown butterflies were recently spotted in the Jebel Jais mountains of Ras Al Khaimah. Prominent birder and wildlife specialist at Dubai Safari Park Dr Reza Khan told, “I was very lucky to have found not one, but four, specimens of this butterfly in one location and a fifth one in another location of the Jebel Jais mountains recently.” He said they were found at elevations of 1,200-1,250 metres above sea level in a concreted area used by tourists. “The area had man-made structures, shaded areas, some sandy patches and lots of gravel. Some ornamental indigenous and exotic trees and shrubs planted there had a drip irrigation system. I watched the butterflies between 8am and 1pm over four days when temperatures soared between 38 and 41 degrees Celsius. At times, it was breezy and cloudy,” he recalled. Dr Khan said this species of the butterfy, according to scientists, depends on shaded micro-environments. “During my observations, I found they were virtually in dry parking lots with some planted trees and shrubs watered sparingly. All were found on the ground having stone tiles or pebbles and sand, or other man-made rock walls and […]