The Valley of Butterflies lies in the thick branches of the isolated Oriental Sweet Gum tree population on the island of Rhodes, Greece. The trees draw the Jersey Tiger moth or Panaxia Quadripunctaria to the valley in the summer season much like the tourists that flock to the island’s rocky beaches and fresh seafood. Manipella independently produced the Preserving the Valley of Butterflies documentary in 2022-2023. The Valley of Butterflies is a conservation site managed to protect the area for the butterflies since the 1920s. As the only natural location outside of Turkey for Oriental Sweet Gum trees, the park has been highly protected, especially after the 2021 and 2023 fires which affected the surrounding region. Bolstering fire protection is only a piece of the puzzle in retaining the Jersey Tiger moth population as human interactions, invasive wildlife, and urbanization all have major effects on the insect's ability to breed after leaving Rhodes. The documentary shares the story of this unique environment and societal relationship.
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