Asia's first butterfly safari park at Thenmala
Thenmala, the first eco-tourism project in India, has hosted another first-of-the-kind attraction with Mr. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Minister for Tourism inaugurating Asia?s first butterfly safari park here on February 22. The artificially created 3.5 hectare park is designed by the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI).
125 species of butterflies have already been sighted in the park. To boost the feeding and breeding of the butterflies, microhabitats with special shrubs and trees have been formed. The park has roosting plants and host plants that provide the right leafy meal to caterpillar species and plants with leaves which butterflies depend on for their alkaloid requirements.
Special water sprinklers and artificial ponds have also been included in the park. Visitors to the park can watch the various life cycles of many rare and endemic butterflies like ?Autumn leaf butterfly?.
