Moodbidri: Exclusive park for butterflies to be opened soon

Moodbidri, 02 Nov 2012: An exclusive park for butterflies, the first of its kind in the state, developed by a college lecturer will be opened for public by next year.

 

Butterfly park at Santhadi House in Beluvai village, eight kms away from Moodbidri and 42 kms from Mangalore, is an amazing place for enthusiasts especially for shutterbugs. Sammilan S Shetty (27), lecturer at the Lakshmi Memorial College of Hotel Management, developed the park after working for nearly two years. There are more than 100 species of butterflies including endemic species such as Malabar Bandid peacock in the park. Sammilan has plans to dedicate the park officially to public next year.

 

Sammilan told TOI that that it will be the only private butterfly park in the state with more than 100 species of colourful butterflies flying amidst flowers and greenery.

 

"I have confirmed the presence of 102 butterflies with the identification two more species Tawny Rajah and Black Rajah on Tuesday. The actual number of butterflies in the park is yet to be ascertained as it is difficult to identify small varieties. Though the park was not opened officially, people from various parts of the state visit here on holidays," Sammilan said.

 

"My objective is to conserve butterfly population, which is being reduced due to cutting of host plants, deforestation, habitat destruction, use of insecticides, weedicides, forest fire and illegal poaching. Butterflies, which form an important part of food chain and important pollinators in nature, should be preserved. Its food constitute of nectar from flowers, rotten food liquids, bird droppings, cow dung, minerals from soil, alkaloids rich plants, dead crabs, human sweat and so on. The 7.5 acres park provides environment with focus on nectar, rotten food liquid, alkaloid rich plant and importance is given on host plants too. About 3.5 acres is the secondary forest land where host plants have been identified and are being conserved. Host plants that support the larval stage of the butterfly is being grown in one acre and nectar plants in three acres," he said adding that his interest in butterflies started with a project allotted by his Zoology teacher while doing graduation course in Microbiology.

 

Malabar Bandid Peacock, Southern Bird Wing, Paris Peacock, Clipper, Red Spot Duke, Great Evening Brown, Large Oakblue etc are some of the rarest species in the park.