Work has begun in Samoa to bring back a butterfly species, which has not been found in the country for more than 40 years.
Samoa Conservation Society president James Atherton told Radio Australia the Samoa swallowtail butterfly, or Pepe Ae, was last seen there in 1979.
Mr Atherton says the butterfly can still be found in American Samoa.
He says Samoa has 30 butterfly species but the Pepe Ae was the biggest at 10 centimetres across - a blackish butterfly with white spots and also red on its wings.
Mr Atherton says discussions have started on a breeding program, which is already underway in American Samoa, but he is hopeful the conditions in Samoa will be conducive for the butterfly to be brought over.
Source:
RNZ Pacific