A new butterfly park is under development at Pilikula Biological Park, set to showcase a wide variety of butterflies and their host plants. The park, which currently has nearly a thousand host plants, is aimed at providing visitors with an opportunity to learn about butterflies, alongside the park’s diverse collection of animals and birds.
HJ Bhandary, the director of Pilikula Biological Park, shared that the butterfly park is being designed to offer an immersive educational experience. Initially, the plan was to build the park inside a large dome, but due to evolving trends, the park will now be an open space. This change will encourage visitors to carefully spot butterflies as they fly across the expansive area.
Under expert guidance, around 1,000 host plants have already been planted, with more being added. These plants were selected based on their suitability to local butterfly species. The park covers approximately 20 acres within the green belt area sponsored by MRPL, which also features medicinal plants and rare species from the Western Ghats.
Notable plants include Zanthoxylum rhetsa, which attracts the Malabar Banded Peacock and Red Helen butterflies, and Calotropis gigantea, a host for the Plain Tiger, Striped Tiger, and Blue Tiger butterflies. Other plants like Lantana camara and Leea Indica support species such as the Common Crow, Lemon Pansy, and Tailed Jay butterflies.
The park will soon begin documenting the butterflies that visit, adding to its educational value.
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