Moodabidri: The first private butterfly park of the state, popularly known as Sammilan Shetty’s Butterfly Park, near Belvai of Moodabidri in Dakshina Kannada district has got a place in the World Book of Records.
The butterfly park, which is developed on a 7.35 acres land at the foothills of the Kantawara forest of Belvai, is a brainchild of hospitality management lecturer Sammilan Shetty. He spent lakhs of rupees on nectar-rich flora that attract and encourage the breeding of butterflies, and also to manage the park.
The park was inaugurated in August 2013 and today it attracts hundreds of students, nature lovers and interested every day. It provides special opportunity to study, conduct research about the winged beauties. There are 148 butterfly species in the park including five rare species.
Founder Sammilan Shetty says, “With the international recognition to the park, all hard works I had done on the design and management of the park has paid. There is a motive to carry out more study and work on butterflies and environmental awareness. Students utilize the park for their research on butterflies.”
