– See where you go! Magnus Jakobsen is strict in his voice. The otherwise very cheerful southerner has seen a newly hatched butterfly on the ground, right inside the door of the greenhouse. NRK’s photographer is clearly informed. – You are not allowed to exterminate one percent of the rock bluewings in the country. A two centimeter butterfly gently strikes with its wings on the stone floor. The experts estimate that there are only around 100 copies in Norway. Half are inside this greenhouse. A Rock Bluebird that was recently hatched in the greenhouse. Photo: Espen Bierud / NRK Critically endangered The blue butterfly is one of the country’s most endangered species, and has stopped construction projects in several places. – It is critically endangered. Then it is simply on the verge of extinction. That is what we will try to prevent, says Øystein Røsok. He is a senior adviser to the State Administrator in Oslo and Viken, and one of those who fights for the population of rock bluewings in Halden. Researchers have found a small population in there. It was also found in Tvedestrand, but it has not been seen there for many years. Øystein Røsok, senior adviser at the State Administrator in Oslo and Viken. Photo: Petter Larsson / NRK Was commissioned to breed more Magnus Jakobsen was commissioned to see if it is possible to breed more specimens. – The directorate let us pick up ten small eggs in Halden a couple of years ago. Now I have bred a little over 50 copies. The hope is to be able to put them back in the wild to strengthen the population, says the butterfly enthusiast. The plan is to drive some butterflies and around 200 larvae to Halden this year. As it looks now, the project is on schedule. Great responsibility Jakobsen says that it is an exciting, but also demanding project he is working on. – It’s incredibly stressful! I was here before six o’clock this morning to check the temperature and humidity. The potential to kill the whole gang is there. It just can not happen. He previously ran a butterfly park in Arendal. Those experiences come in handy now. The plants in the greenhouse have been specially selected to suit the eating habits of the rock bluewings. Magnus Jakobsen in the greenhouse. Photo: Espen Bierud / NRK An obligation to do what Jakobsen has received a few hundred thousand kroner from the Norwegian Environment Agency to breed more rock bluewings. – Most of it has gone to building the greenhouse. There will not be that many kroner left over. So it’s good I have a job outside. This will be more of a hobby, he says. Klippeblåvingen seems to thrive in the greenhouse. Photo: Espen Bierud / NRK The goal now is to build up a healthy population in Halden. Initially. – What drives me is that I see that constantly new species are threatened with extinction. When I see that I can do something about it, I feel an obligation to do it. Then he locks the greenhouse with two locks. – The content is too biologically important to let anyone else in here, he says with a smile that shines in earnest.
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Magnus Jakobsen tries to save critically endangered rock bluewing – NRK Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
