An Indian Fritillary butterfly takes a brief pause to give you survival tips

Follow me to the ground. There is nourishment below your feet. Mud puddles rich with minerals strengthen my flight and steady my nerves. Basking on warm earth restores balance. Females know this well. They descend quietly, wings closed, unseen, choosing the right plants, the right moment, the right place to begin another life. Speed above, stillness below. Both are necessary. There is a stillness beneath these movements, rooted in the places that shelter me. I am a creature of the high places. The grasslands of Sri Lanka’s highest hills are my cradle, and the wooded parks nearby are my brief retreats. Few of these places remain, so tread gently when you visit them. Learn from me. Be quick when needed, invisible when required, and always return to what sustains you. If you see me flash past in the midday sun, consider it a lesson, not a performance. I will not stay long, but the memory should.

Mahoora naturalist, Sameera Ariyarathna, captured this beautiful shot whilst on a trek in Horton Plains National Park. All of the Mahoora Tented Safari Camps are great locations for butterfly enthusiasts, as they are located on the borders of National Parks. For those seeking even deeper immersion, Explorer by Eco Team offers an exceptional base to discover a rich and varied world of butterflies within and around the Sinharaja rainforest.