1 month ago
In a quiet suburb of Kenya's Nairobi, a lifelong passion has blossomed into one of Africa's most extensive butterfly collections. Steve Collins, now 74, began his journey as a butterfly enthusiast more than 60 years ago. What started as a childhood hobby has grown into an impressive collection of over 4.2 million specimens, representing hundreds of species. Collins was born and raised in western Kenya. His fascination with butterflies took hold when he was just five years old, sparking a lifelong pursuit of these delicate creatures. Today, his 1.5-acre (0.6-hectare) property is a sanctuary for butterflies, featuring a lush mini-forest of indigenous trees and flowering bushes. Here, hundreds of butterflies flit from flower to flower, occasionally resting on Collins' hand—a testament to his deep connection with them. Though his collection remains private, it once operated as an education center between 1998 and 2003. Amongst the meticulously preserved specimens are 1.2 million butterflies from across Africa, carefully pinned and displayed in frames on rows of shelves. An additional 3 million specimens are stored in envelopes, awaiting future study or display.
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Assistant butterfly collector Edgar Emojong pins a butterfly at the African Butterfly Research Institute (ABRI) in Nairobi, Kenya. (AP)
Photo Credit : AP
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Edgar Emojong, assistant butterfly collector at the African Butterfly Research Institute (ABRI), catches butterflies in Nairobi, Kenya. (AP)
Photo Credit : AP
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A butterfly rests on the nose of assistant butterfly collector Edgar Emojong at the African Butterfly Research Institute (ABRI) in Nairobi, Kenya. (AP)
Photo Credit : AP
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Steve Collins, a butterfly collector and the founder of the African Butterfly Research Institute (ABRI), holds a butterfly collection box in Nairobi, Kenya. (AP)
Photo Credit : AP
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Steve Collins, a butterfly collector and the founder of the African Butterfly Research Institute (ABRI), holds a butterfly in Nairobi, Kenya. (AP)
Photo Credit : AP
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dgar Emojong, assistant butterfly collector at the African Butterfly Research Institute (ABRI), pins a butterfly in Nairobi, Kenya. (AP)
Photo Credit : AP
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A butterfly collection box at a storeroom at the African Butterfly Research Institute (ABRI) in Nairobi, Kenya. (AP)
Photo Credit : AP
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Steve Collins, a butterfly collector and the founder of the African Butterfly Research Institute (ABRI), holds a butterfly in Nairobi, Kenya. (AP)
Photo Credit : AP
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Edgar Emojong, assistant butterfly collector at the African Butterfly Research Institute (ABRI), holds a butterfly in Nairobi, Kenya. (AP)
Photo Credit : AP
