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Butterfly farming along Kenya’s coast has been around for nearly 30 years. For communities living close to this forest, these colorful winged insects have become a key source of livelihood. But how does it work? Once a farmer captures a butterfly from the forest, the females are bred in enclosures. Afterward, the ova laid by the female butterflies are removed. The eggs are then placed in cages where they are monitored until they develop into pupae. It is the pupae that are then shipped to export markets like the, US and Europe. They are mostly exhibited in butterfly houses, while some are used for research at universities and butterfly centers, and others are fashioned into home décor.