Muscat – Ghaniya al Majrafi’s photograph ‘White Desert Butterfly’ has won first place in a butterfly photography competition organised by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT).

It launched the contest in September 2021 to document the sultanate’s butterfly species in cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.

The competition had two categories – butterfly photography competition and recording the maximum number of butterfly species.

Ghaniya, a macro photographer from the wilayat of Ibri, Dhahirah, won the first place in the butterfly photography competition and second in recording the maximum number of species.

According to Ghaniya, the ministry’s initiative aimed to educate the community about indigenous butterfly species. “The idea was also to update scientific data on Omani butterfly species, besides promoting tourist destinations in the sultanate.”

About her interest in photography, Ghaniya said she prefers wwildlife photography, especially insects. She is a member of Photographic Society of Oman and International Federation for Photographic Art (FIAP).

Ghaniya informed that photographing insects requires knowledge about their habitat and food habits. She hopes to hold a solo exhibition soon.

The last report on butterfly species in Oman dates back to 1996.