Gedi - Kipepeo Butterfly Project

Located at the entrance to Gede Ruins is the Kipepeo Butterfly Project. Kipepeo is Swahili for butterfly.

Forest edge communities are given the opportunity to gain income directly from the forest, by live breeding the unique butterflies of the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest. These are then sent to live butterfly display centers around the world. Farmer's raise the caterpillars on leaves from forest trees; a very small but sustainable harvest. When the caterpillars change into pupae (the resting stage in the life of a butterfly), the farmers sell the pupae to Kipepeo.

This project does help compensate farmers, somewhat, for the damage that elephants and baboons cause to their crops.