Butterfly season arrives early in Vietnam’s Cuc Phuong National Park

During early April, millions of butterflies in vibrant colors blanket forest trails and tree tops in Cuc Phuong National Park in Vietnam.

This year, the season arrived two to three weeks earlier than usual.

Park officials attribute the early emergence of butterflies to weather changes.

The north’s early warming and high humidity, which began in late spring, made it possible for larvae to develop rapidly and become butterflies sooner, news site Vietnam.vn reported.

More than 400 species of butterflies, swallowtail butterflies, citrus butterflies, and powder butterflies, can be found in Cuc Phuong National Park.

These species are in a variety of sizes and colors, with the most prevalent being white and yellow.

The butterfly season lasts until the end of May.

READ MORE: ‘Timmy’ the humpback whale’s journey ends in tragedy off Baltic Coast

Butterfly watching and firefly encounter tours

Park officials promptly adjusted their yearly plans in response to the early arrival of this natural phenomenon, launching their experience tours ahead of schedule to accommodate tourists, Vietnam News reported.

The most popular offerings are the daytime butterfly watching tour and the nighttime firefly encounter.

During the day, visitors walk meandering paths to witness butterflies flutter all around.

Guides enhance the experience by describing the life cycle of a butterfly, its role in pollination, and the link between insects and the forest ecosystem.

At night, tourists stroll through the quiet woodland while taking in the sounds of nature as thousands of small but bright lights from fireflies flicker.

Responsible tourism

Park officials highlight that these tours are opportunities to interact with the forest through a variety of senses and develop a greater awareness of the natural environment.

“Ecotourism is not about exploiting the forest but about interpreting it – with the message that nature is truly beautiful only when it remains intact,” Cuc Phuong National Park director Nguyen Van Chinh said, as quoted by Vietnam News.

“If we disrupt that balance, even slightly, these seasons will vanish – and there will be no way to recreate them,” he said.

“That is why our goal is not to attract as many visitors as possible but to ensure that each person who comes leaves with greater understanding, deeper love, and stronger responsibility towards the forest.”

READ NEXT: Documentary on Vietnam’s Son Doong Cave featured on CBS’s “60 Minutes”