Socotran Butterflies

As we trekked through Socotra’s rugged valleys, butterflies flitted through the air, their delicate wings catching the golden sunlight. With 25 recorded species on the island—three of them found nowhere else—their presence added a touch of lightness to the stark, ancient landscape. Unlike the highly endemic reptiles and grasshoppers, Socotra’s butterflies shared more of their lineage with the outside world, yet here, among the dragon’s blood trees and limestone cliffs, they felt entirely unique. Sarah, ever the scientist, marveled at their patterns, jotting notes in her weathered journal as Abdul playfully tried to catch one between his fingers. The island, it seemed, was full of quiet wonders.