Taiwan Today

Tsai Bae-chun has spent much of the last 30 years photographing Taiwan’s butterflies to raise awareness about the need for environmental conservation.

Some 20 years have passed, but Tsai Bae-chun still recounts his 1988 adventure on Mt. Taiping in Yilan County, northern Taiwan in a voice filled with excitement and a sense of pride. It had been a day similar to many others he had spent pursuing butterflies in the mountains, and he was about to leave as the weather turned cloudy. Suddenly, he spotted a black creature resting on the mountain’s steep slope. His instinct told him that it was the endangered broad-tailed swallowtail butterfly, or Agehana maraho, generally recognized as Taiwan’s most beautiful and precious butterfly.

“My heart was beating fast, but I tried to hold my breath and approach it on tiptoe,” Tsai recalls. “I told myself I had to succeed in getting a shot of it no matter what. I’d searched for the species for nearly a decade and I knew I might not encounter one again for decades more or maybe in my lifetime. I was lucky to get close enough and I pressed the shutter just as its wings started to beat gently. The shot seemed too good to be true!”

Broad-tailed swallowtail butterflies are endemic to Taiwan and usually emerge as adults between May and June every year. As the swallowtail larvae feed only on the leaves of the Taiwanese sassafras tree, the insects are commonly found in sassafras forests at elevations of 1,000 to 2,000 meters in central and northern Taiwan.

The species’ most distinguishing characteristics are its extraordinarily broad wingspan and red tail. Its forewings span 15 to 20 centimeters and are blackish-brown in color, while its hind wings have a large white spot with a series of red, crescent-shaped markings on the outer margins.

The broad-tailed swallowtail was first discovered in Taiwan in 1932 by a Japanese entomologist near Mt. Duli in Yilan County, northern Taiwan. Tsai says that during the era of Japanese colonial rule over Taiwan (1895−1945), there were only seven recorded sightings of the butterfly. In light of the rarity and beauty of the species, Tsai made the elusive creature his top target in 1979 when, at the age of 29, he decided to devote himself to tracking and photographing Taiwan’s butterflies on a full-time basis. That decision was influenced by a trip to Hualien County, eastern Taiwan, where he witnessed the life cycle of butterflies at a friend’s guesthouse. “I saw a bunch of eggs on the first night,” he says. “They turned into caterpillars on the wall a few days later, then became pupae and eventually emerged as colorful butterflies. That experience sparked my interest in those delicate insects.” During his visit to Hualien, Tsai was also captivated by the natural beauty of the area and ended up spending several months exploring the local creeks and mountains.

Fueling a Passion

After dedicating himself to hunting and photographing butterflies, Tsai began reading extensively to enhance his knowledge of the insects, an avocation that further fueled his passion. Once he came across a Japanese reference book on Taiwan’s butterflies that, to his surprise and delight, presented the island’s endemic species in their original sizes and colors. In comparison, he found that books on butterflies published in Taiwan at the time appeared much inferior in quality.

In addition, during his stay in Hualien some 30 years ago, Tsai met many Japanese tourists and researchers who visited the region’s butterfly-rich valleys to search for rare species. Most of them were knowledgeable about Taiwan’s butterflies and some even offered large sums of money to purchase specimens.

In the 1980s, Taiwan’s government and private sector were making an all-out push for economic growth and few people seemed to care about culture or the environment, Tsai says. Domestic entomologists, for their part, largely focused on finding ways to prevent moths from damaging plants, while research on the habitats, distribution and life cycles of butterflies was scarce. After thinking about such issues, Tsai came to the conclusion that the nation’s focus on financial gain was too narrow and shortsighted.

“Culture is the dignity of a nation. Without culture, how can a nation maintain its dignity?” Tsai asks. “What’s the use of a better economy if there is such a big cultural gap between Taiwan and its neighbors? It was really humiliating.” Tsai thus made up his mind to use the art form of photography to stimulate interest in the environment, resolving to one day publish sophisticated pictorial almanacs about the island’s butterflies, in addition to making a systematic classification of the creatures.

Tsai graduated from a vocational high school in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, but never formally studied photography. He was good at painting and drawing, however, and once worked as a cartoonist for a publishing house. His interest in photography stemmed from his love of painting, he says, and he also found inspiration in the beautifully composed color photos in some magazines. Furthermore, since his brother-in-law ran a store that sold traditional Chinese medicines, many of which are derived from herbs, he had the opportunity to learn about various kinds of plants. Given such interests and abilities, it was easy for Tsai to venture into nature photography.

What began as an interest in photographing butterflies turned into a burning obsession, and Tsai knew soon after he got started in 1979 that he could no longer continue working in his family’s wholesale cooking oil business. “My mind was made up,” he says. “I wanted to be a butterfly chaser and use my camera to showcase their beauty. They can touch people’s hearts, and that can motivate people to learn about the species and take action to protect butterfly habitats. Taiwan is endowed with a pleasant natural environment that has an abundance of flora and fauna. We need to do our best to conserve it not only for our own good, but also for the benefit of future generations.”

Excluding its outlying islands, Taiwan proper is home to about 380 butterfly species, some 50 of which are endemic. In the 1960s, having one of the world’s largest concentrations of butterfly species helped Taiwan become known as a butterfly kingdom. Naturalists attribute such biodiversity to the island’s unique climate, hydrology and topography. For butterflies, the variety of ecosystems and plant species in Taiwan’s subtropical and subalpine forests offer a prime habitat.

Tsai’s obsession led him to delve deeply into the island’s forests and mountains to observe and document the habitats, lifecycles and movements of Taiwan’s butterflies. Often working alone in the wilderness, Tsai has photographed 345 species thus far.

Tracking down so many kinds of butterflies has not been easy. In his younger, “crazier” days, whenever Tsai heard about the sighting of a certain rare species, he would begin his own search for it immediately. He would sometimes ride more than 500 kilometers a day on his motorcycle, he says, and at one point was away from home for a half year as he passionately pursued butterflies in the field.

Tsai’s quest has resulted in plenty of adventures across the island, he says. One time he fell into a mountain creek and found himself struggling to crawl out of the bone-chilling water. On another occasion, he clambered up a tree to get close to some butterflies, only to find himself face to face with a deadly bamboo viper. And there was also the time he nearly froze to death on a mountaintop. Still, he has never been deterred by any of those near-fatal experiences—or by financial difficulties or the opposition of his family.

To take good photos of butterflies requires a lot of time and energy, proper technique and a bit of luck, Tsai says, adding that the insects’ tiny, slim forms make it a challenge to portray them in an artistic, three-dimensional manner. “It’s hard to locate a [specific] butterfly that you have in mind. And even when you do finally spot it, you might not be able to get very close to it,” he says. “But I think the elusive nature of butterflies is also part of their charm. All the hard work can be instantly offset by the joy you feel when your pursuit is successful.”

Butterflies feed on the nectar of flowers and normally can only be seen in the morning, when they feed, sip water and enjoy the sunshine, Tsai says. They become invisible by roosting as soon as the weather turns cloudy or windy and are alert to any movement in their surroundings. In addition, the adults of some species have short life spans and can only be seen in flight for one month or less each year.

“I insist on shooting insects in their natural habitats, not specimens,” Tsai says. “And I use macro lenses instead of long-distance lenses. Basically, I use a ‘dumb’ way so that I can get the best picture. I often have to search and wait for a long time to find a subject that happens to be in an ideal setting—one that’s not partially hidden by leaves, branches or other obstructions and with the blessing of good sunlight so that the overall composition of the shot will be good.”

After years of chasing the insects, Tsai has learned plenty of butterfly basics—what they eat, when and where they appear, as well as their camouflage and movements. This knowledge of their behavior has led to Tsai being dubbed “Mr. Butterfly” by the domestic media.

Apart from writing columns for newspapers and magazines and giving lectures in schools to promote conservation, Tsai has taken on nature photography projects in Africa, North and South America, Southeast Asia and Inner Mongolia. He has also been invited by the headquarters units of Yushan National Park and Kenting National Park to contribute photographs for picture booklets introducing visitors to the butterflies found in the parks, while a variety of organizations have exhibited his work at home and abroad.

So far, Tsai has published some 10 books on ecology and has won awards from the National Cultural Association under the Office of the President, the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Government Information Office, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Kaohsiung City Government. His longtime dedication to conservation is also documented in textbooks published by the MOE for use in elementary schools.

In May 2007, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. also honored Tsai by exhibiting a collection of 28 of his photographs featuring Taiwan’s endemic butterfly species. He was the first Asian photographer to have been invited to showcase works at the prestigious museum. “The exhibition of my pieces at the Smithsonian was international recognition of the beauty of Taiwan’s butterflies,” Tsai says. “In a way, it was also a form of cultural diplomacy that helped increase Taiwan’s visibility in the international community.”

King Hen-biau, former director of the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, which operates under the Council of Agriculture, says Tsai is the first domestic photographer to capture the rare broad-tailed swallowtail butterfly in the field. Tsai also holds the distinction of photographing more species of the island’s butterflies than anyone else, King says.

“Tsai has endeavored to use nature photography as a means to stimulate the public’s interest in the fascinating phenomena of the various creatures around us. Through his work, he has helped Taiwan’s wildlife scenes spread far and wide,” King writes in the preface of one of Tsai’s books. “The photographer also intends to share his vision wherein we must cherish all life on earth and our natural resources in order to reestablish a harmonious relationship between mankind and nature.”

Joseph Shen, a professor in the Institute of Liberal Education at National Taiwan University of Arts, says Tsai has garnered honors for Taiwan in international exhibitions and gained fame for his sophisticated work. “Almost every example of Tsai’s work can be considered topnotch. His accomplishments are the result of a lot of time, energy and money,” Shen says. “Tsai often spends hours or even days trying to get a shot that represents an insect’s graceful posture, naturally iridescent colors and beautiful environment.”

Tsai’s refined skills allow him to take photos that have an aesthetic appeal and also convey the importance of environmental protection, Shen says, adding that the “beautiful, lively creatures and natural environment presented in his works touch and inspire us to revere and preserve what nature has given us.”

Close Attention to Ecology

Meanwhile, Tsai points out that a large number of Taiwanese people have devoted themselves to religious and charity activities, as well as joined in disaster relief efforts at home and abroad, but fewer have paid close attention to ecology and the environment. “I hope that more and more people will realize how much damage we’ve done to our environment through development projects and deforestation, and understand that we need to work to remedy the situation before it’s too late,” he says. “Otherwise, we’re going to taste the bitter fruit of our own actions soon.”

Over the years, Tsai has moved around the country to pursue different butterfly species. He currently lives in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan near the Maolin National Scenic Area, where purple crow butterflies, which are known to scientists as Euploea phaenareta juvia, congregate en masse from December to March each year.

In addition to his goal of photographing all 380 known butterfly species on the island, Tsai intends to keep working to promote ecological awareness. To do so, he has begun giving a series of presentations employing high-tech digital imagery, as well as designed a number of products like boxes, cards and T-shirts that feature his butterfly images.

“Since I first started following the fluttering trail of butterflies, I’ve known that it’s a solitary and laborious job, but I’ve never regretted my chosen path. In fact, my passion for the creatures has grown stronger over time,” Tsai says. “The thought that my butterfly photographs may help to raise ecological consciousness is what keeps me moving forward.”

Write to Kelly Her at kelly@mail.gio.gov.tw