Butterfly park takes wings
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TRICHY: One of India's biggest butterfly parks is coming up at Upper Anaicut Reserve Forest
in Srirangam. A pet project of Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalithaa, a
section of it is expected to be thrown open to public in June,
according to sources, in advance of the March 2014 deadline as the
forest department officials are executing the works on a war footing.
Half the work of the Rs 8.67-crore project is over now. It is being set up on a 25-acre land, five km from Srirangam, after the CM laid the foundation stone on September 13, last year.
The butterfly park, which will also serve as an entertainment arena, consists of indoor and outdoor conservatories as well as a zodiac forest consisting of trees associated with 12 zodiac signs and 27 stars. Forest officials hope zodiac forest may encourage people to plant trees associated with their signs and stars at their residence or on farms, thus helping to expand the tree cover in the state.
The objective of setting up the park is to protect the winged species by creating suitable conditions for their breeding and rearing. The reserve forest area was chosen for the conservatory as it has the ideal soil moisture which is conducive for rearing butterfly. Forest department officials say the outdoor conservatory for the multi-hued insect is influenced by external climate. A large number of nectar plants and host plants (where the butterflies lay eggs) will be raised in the park. Temperature inside the indoor conservatory made of polycarbonate could be regulated to ensure suitable climate for breeding, rearing of the diurnal insect. Though, the number of butterflies has not been set, in future, many varieties may be reared in the park, a source said.
Ponds, water fountains and a hanging bridge will add to the park's charm. Seven bore wells are being dug as water has to be sprayed to create the right humidity. Besides, visitors can feel a moist ambience with the release of water from the fountains.
The butterfly park, which will also serve as an entertainment arena, consists of indoor and outdoor conservatories as well as a zodiac forest consisting of trees associated with 12 zodiac signs and 27 stars. Forest officials hope zodiac forest may encourage people to plant trees associated with their signs and stars at their residence or on farms, thus helping to expand the tree cover in the state.
The objective of setting up the park is to protect the winged species by creating suitable conditions for their breeding and rearing. The reserve forest area was chosen for the conservatory as it has the ideal soil moisture which is conducive for rearing butterfly. Forest department officials say the outdoor conservatory for the multi-hued insect is influenced by external climate. A large number of nectar plants and host plants (where the butterflies lay eggs) will be raised in the park. Temperature inside the indoor conservatory made of polycarbonate could be regulated to ensure suitable climate for breeding, rearing of the diurnal insect. Though, the number of butterflies has not been set, in future, many varieties may be reared in the park, a source said.
Ponds, water fountains and a hanging bridge will add to the park's charm. Seven bore wells are being dug as water has to be sprayed to create the right humidity. Besides, visitors can feel a moist ambience with the release of water from the fountains.
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