The butterfly hunters

The butterfly hunters

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Devigny Ndakpa-Dack, a 52-year-old from conflict-stricken Central African Republic, has an unusual job. He catches and collects butterflies, like the deep blue specimen pictured above.

Many professional butterfly hunters gather their prey in the forest outside Bangui. They then sell the animals to artisans who use them to make butterfly-wing mosaics, a popular form of art in the country.

. BANGUI, Central African Republic. REUTERS/Joe Penney

This picture shows an example of butterfly-wing art.

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Slideshow

Didier Memikata, 48, (left) and Devigny Ndakpa-Dack, 52, hunt for butterflies in Botimbo village, south of Bangui.
. BANGUI, Central African Republic. REUTERS/Joe Penney

Didier Memikata, 48, (left) and Devigny Ndakpa-Dack, 52, hunt for butterflies in Botimbo village, south of Bangui.

Butterfly hunters use dog faeces to attract their prey.
. BANGUI, Central African Republic. REUTERS/Joe Penney

Butterfly hunters use dog faeces to attract their prey.

Didier Memikata kills a butterfly in his net.
. BANGUI, Central African Republic. REUTERS/Joe Penney

Didier Memikata kills a butterfly in his net.

Memikata holds out a butterfly that he caught.
. BANGUI, Central African Republic. REUTERS/Joe Penney

Memikata holds out a butterfly that he caught.

He gathers the animals in a plastic bag.
. BANGUI, Central African Republic. REUTERS/Joe Penney

He gathers the animals in a plastic bag.

Artists use butterfly wings to make mosaics at a house in Bangui.
. BANGUI, Central African Republic. REUTERS/Joe Penney

Artists use butterfly wings to make mosaics at a house in Bangui.

An artist cuts up the wings as he sits on the floor.
. BANGUI, Central African Republic. REUTERS/Joe Penney

An artist cuts up the wings as he sits on the floor.

A rare butterfly, worth $600 according to Devigny Ndakpa-Dack, lies on a table in Bangui.
. BANGUI, Central African Republic. REUTERS/Joe Penney

A rare butterfly, worth $600 according to Devigny Ndakpa-Dack, lies on a table in Bangui.

An apprentice makes a butterfly-wing mosaic.
. BANGUI, Central African Republic. REUTERS/Joe Penney

An apprentice makes a butterfly-wing mosaic.

A finished work of butterfly-wing art depicts the Central African Republic's flag.
. BANGUI, Central African Republic. REUTERS/Joe Penney

A finished work of butterfly-wing art depicts the Central African Republic's flag.