Butterflies are a magical part of the experience of Corfu, so captivatingly portrayed in the books by my late husband, Gerald Durrell, about his youth on the enchanting island of Corfu, one of the beautiful islands of the archipelago in the Ionian Sea.

We know now that butterflies and moths are a vital part of our wildlife heritage and are valuable as sensitive indicators of the health of our environment. So, given that declines in insects are now to be seen around the globe, it begs the questions; are similar trends to be found in the Ionian region, and, if so, are the butterflies threatened?

Ionian Butterfly Conservation

Ionian Butterfly Conservation grew out of an impressive effort to catalogue and conserve the butterflies and moths of Corfu by concerned residents, island visitors and scientists from all over the world. Now, like-minded people from all the Ionian Islands are coming together with the same energy and efficiency to study, appreciate and safeguard the lepidoptera of the region. Our goal is to stimulate informed interest and produce robust scientific data that can be used to influence policy and protect habitat for the benefit of the islands’ butterflies and the wider natural environment, on which we all depend. Our immediate aim is to record the distribution of butterflies, and we would be delighted if you would help us in this effort.

How can you help?

We invite you to learn more about the butterflies of the Ionian Islands and to submit your sightings in order to create a knowledge base that will protect them for the future. Please like our Facebook page and use this website to learn more and send us your sightings.

Our vision

We hope there will be fireflies and glow-worms at night to guide you and butterflies in hedges and forests to greet you.
We hope that your dawns will be filled with an orchestra of bird song to enchant you.
We hope there will still be extraordinary creatures sharing the planet with you to enrich your lives as they have done for us.
We hope you will be grateful for having been born into such a magical world.

Gerald Durrell was inspired by his magical childhood in Corfu to devote his life to animals and plants, becoming one of the greatest conservationists of all time. He never forgot the source of his motivation, the exquisite Ionian Islands and their precious national heritage.

Ionian Butterfly Conservation will foster a wider respect for nature among both residents and visitors. In turn, it will promote protection of the environment in one of the most beautiful, but fragile, parts of the world.

Lee Durrell
Corfu, 18th December 2025

The evolution of our organisation mirrors the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly. This is because what began as a whimsy for a book has developed into a leading conservation force for butterflies and moths across the Ionian region. As we make our public announcement of this change from Corfu Butterfly Conservation to Ionian Butterfly Conservation, I thought it might be worth recounting our journey to this point.

Beginnings and Growth: The Corfu Community (2014–2019)

Our story began on 27 April 2014, with the creation of a Facebook group dedicated to the butterflies of Corfu. The initial goal was simple: to create a book featuring distribution maps of every species. This enthusiasm was infectious, quickly fostering a small but dedicated community of butterfly enthusiasts. Through consistent support in identifying species, the group's skills rapidly advanced. Within five years, we had developed a robust understanding of the species present on the island.

Launching Conservation and Data (2019–2021)

Our community's passion was soon put to the test when a breeding colony of the Plain Tiger butterfly in northeast Corfu was threatened by local clear-up activities. This incident made it clear: effective conservation requires evidence and an organized body. This need spurred the launch of the Corfu Butterfly Survey (CBS), which ran from January 2021 to December 2025.

• Data & Mapping: Key to this effort was the development of a state-of-the-art biodiversity mapping system by Bob Foreman, Steven Cheshire and David Shearan, creating a vital tool for community recording.
• Outreach: We engaged both residents and visitors in the CBS and one of the major initiatives in this process was the production and free distribution of 15,000 A1 posters featuring all known butterfly species on the island.

The Establishment of Corfu Butterfly Conservation (CBC)

Building on the CBS's success, Corfu Butterfly Conservation (CBC) was formally incorporated on 22 December 2021 as a UK-based Community Interest Company (CIC). Managed by a dedicated Greek and English committee, our organisation quickly established a reputation for robust scientific work:

• Research: We explored the effects of climate change-induced wildfires, as well as landscape management on butterfly populations. We also began investigating the genetic diversity of Corfiot butterflies to understand their origins compared to their European counterparts.
• Funding: A significant highlight was securing funding from the Ionian Environment Foundation (IEF), to work with the Capodistrias Museum to employ our own Educational Outreach Officer.

Regional Expansion: Ionian Butterfly Conservation (IBC)

By late 2025, discussions with the Ionian Environmental Foundation (IEF) highlighted a major gap: there was no organisation like us serving all the Ionian Islands. With the Corfu Butterfly Survey successfully concluding, there was a clear opportunity to expand our efforts. Subsequently, the transition to Ionian Butterfly Conservation (IBC) was completed on 27 November 2025.

• Wider Scope: We upgraded this regional website with support from Dr Ken Elsom, so that IBC can now collect data from all the major islands, including Lefkas, Ithaca, Kephalonia,and Zakynthos, as well as Corfu.
• Mission: This expansion allows us to replicate our successful approach from Corfu— with the objective of using informed data to make conservation recommendations—across the entire Ionian archipelago.

The Next Chapter: Leadership and the Atlas

As we begin work on the comprehensive Corfu Butterfly Atlas, our organisation is preparing for a leadership transition. I will be stepping aside as Executive Director on 27 April 2026 to serve as Chairman of the Board and write the atlas with Anne Sordinas. Consequently, we are now seeking a new Executive Director to lead the day-to-day operations of IBC. This is an exciting and rewarding opportunity to lead butterfly and moth conservation across the Ionian region. So this begs the question, are you interested in leading our mission? If so, we are encouraging passionate individuals from all backgrounds to apply.

Please download the Executive Director Job Pack from here.

I am proud of the work that our committee has undertaken and even more proud of the organisation that IBC has become. In the last twelve years we have made remarkable progress. If you have something to offer IBC in its mission to conserve the butterflies and moths of the Ionian, please contact us at info@ionianbutterflyconservation.org.

Your contribution would be most welcome.

Dr Dan Danahar
Executive Director
Ionian Butterfly Conservation
01 January 2026