A green and black butterfly found in St Helier earlier this week “almost certainly” escaped from Jersey Zoo, a spokesperson has confirmed.
The colourful insect was discovered on the floor outside Horizon Apartments at the Waterfront.
In a post on social media, islander Jess Kay wrote: “I saved this beautiful butterfly from being trampled on the pavement outside Horizon Apartments.”
She added: “Do I report it to anyone?
“He was incredibly tame and didn’t want to get off my finger.”
Following queries from Express, a spokesperson from Jersey Zoo confirmed the malachite butterfly is “almost certainly one from the zoo”.
The malachite (Siproeta stelenes) is a species Jersey Zoo receives weekly to go in its Butterfly House.
The Zoo spokesperson explained: “The Butterfly House was designed to be an immersive experience for our visitors.
“This walk through exhibit brings people and animals closer together and helps connect them to the natural world.
“Despite a mirror at the exit to check for passengers, three sets of curtains, chains and a door, we occasionally have escapees that make it into the zoo grounds and occasionally, further afield.”
We occasionally have [butterfly] escapees that make it into the zoo grounds and occasionally further afield
jersey zoo spokesperson
The spokesperson confirmed that the butterfly poses “no risk to native species” in Jersey, and has a short adult lifespan of just six to 14 days.
The malachite is native to Central and South America, and is usually found in tropical forests and rainforest edges.
The species is known for its large black and bright green wings.