Karwar: Beautiful butterflies of different colours that attract attention, moths enjoying the beauty of nature as soon as sun sets and bees sucking honey from the flowers, all these amazing pictures and more are being seen at Saalumarada Thimmakka Butterfly Park in Joida of Uttara Kannada District. It is the first open butterfly park in the State.
Butterfly park is situated at the entry of Joida town, and spread across one-acre-land. One can witness over 114 varieties of butterflies in this park. Along with enjoying the beauty of butterflies one can also gain knowledge and information with regard to butterflies. Staff at the park explain about the lifecycle of a butterfly. Also there are boards displayed in the garden which gives plenty of useful information regarding these beautiful species. This comes handy to the research scholars, children, and eco-lovers alike.
The Forest Department has plan to provide more information on butterflies. The names of butterflies are as attractive as their appearance, and they are named according to their external structure. Common Tiger, Blue Tiger, Glassy Tiger etc. and also names like Coaster, Lime are kept on the basis of the trees where they take shelter.
This park has been established by the Forest Department. It is open on all the days of the week, and Rs. 50 is charged as entry fees. It opens at 9.30 am everyday, and visitors from Maharashtra and West Bengal among others enjoy the beauty of this park apart from State visitors. The Forest Department conducts special programmes for students too.
Speaking to News Karnataka Subdivision Forester Santosh Gawas said that, the park began functioning in 2019, and among 300 species of butterflies found in Western Ghats, the park houses 114 species. The butterfly has four stages in its lifecycle, ans in every stage it may be termed as food for birds. It is an indicator of good environment. We have to conserve butterflies and spread the significance of this beautiful creature, which are infact the main objective of this park.
