butterfly of malaysia

22-11-2009 - Sunday 0930 AM

Malaysia

Penang :

The Penang Butterfly Farm, reputedly the world's first tropical live butterfly sanctuary is just 15 minutes away from the Batu Ferringhi tourist belt. Established in 1986, the farm features some 4000 live butterflies of 150 different species, a nature park with small reptiles in their natural habitats as well as the Museum of Asian Artefacts. Expansion plans are underway to include a night zoo, which will feature nocturnal creatures and tropical insects. The farm is a not-to-be-missed for many and it attracts some 250 to 300 visitors daily.

At the Butterfly Farm in Penang you'll be surrounded by a myriad of fluttering butterflies within a seemingly natural setting. Visit the Butterfly Farm in Teluk Bahang, Penang, a sanctuary for over 120 species of rare and exotic tropical butterflies. The farm is complete with a hatchery and a "Preserved Butterflies of the World" museum. The butterfly farm covers an area of .8 hectares and has over 3,000 butterflies.

We can wander between carnivorous plants [which eat flesh] and pools with giant koi. In the nursery, newly emerged butterflies dry their wings. Overcome your fear of creepy crawlies at an educational talk by letting a giant millipede march across your hands. We may wear bright colors to encourage the butterflies to land on you. Volunteer opportunities are available. The Penang Farm is more than just a tourist attraction. It is set up as a 'live museum' to educate the public as well as a research centre to develop breeding methods. The Farm's founder David Goh explains the philosophy behind its operation

The main attraction of the Butterfly Farm is undoubtedly the free flying papilions in the enormous enclosure. The visitor can inspect the butterflies at close quarters as they flit around their favorite nectar plants. The exhibition of selected insects and reptiles are also crowd drawers. The visitor, having traversed this complex of displays ends up in a souvenir shop selling butterfly-related paraphernalia.

Today, the Penang Butterfly Farm is the first tropical butterfly farm ever set up in the tropical world, with an average flying population of 4000 Malaysian butterflies of 120 different species, including the rare Indian Leafl (Kallima paralekta) and the endangered Yellow Bird wing (Troides helena). Probably the most famous of Malaysian butterflies is the Rajah Brooke's Bird wing of the Papilionidae family. First discovered in Borneo in 1855 by A. R. Wallace, it was named after the first British Rajah of Sarawak.

Malay Peninsular has over 1000 recorded butterfly species, among the highest of any country in the world in relation to small land mass. David Goh, the founder of the Penang Butterfly Farm was inspired and encouraged by Mr. Clive Farrell, owner of the Stratford Butterfly Farm at Stratford-on-Avon (birth-place of William Shakespeare) in England, to start a tropical butterfly farm in Malaysia.

The Penang Butterfly Farm is now a household name in Penang and a "must-see" for visitors since it opened in 1986. The farm located right at the end of the tourist hotel strip at Batu Ferringhi stands on a 0.8 hector site in Teluk Bahang, about 17km from George town. It has become one of the most popular stops on Penang's round island tour. The success of the Butterfly Farm as a tourist attraction has even inspired a series of similar commercial operations in Malacca, Cameron highlands and Singapore.

Malaaca

Butterfly Farm, Malacca is worth your visit. It is a unique Tourist Attraction in Malacca and if you are a first time visitor then you must visit this place. It is located at Ayer Keroh and can be easily accessed from your accommodations in Malacca. Butterfly Farm, Malacca is perfect to witness the exotic tropical butterflies. If you are interested in checking out these colorful species then you must visit Butterfly Farm in Malacca.

There are 200 kinds of tropical butterflies at this park. You can see butterflies like Raja Brooke and Birdwing. It will be a totally different experience to explore the fabulous farm. The lush tropical rain forest has several trees, flowers and ponds. Such environment is perfect for butterflies to thrive. A visit to Butterfly Farm, Malacca will make you feel as if you are in a natural paradise. It is a visual treat to watch hundreds of butterflies fly around and sitting on the flowers. Butterfly gardening is quite common in the Butterfly Farm, Malacca. Such Sightseeing in Malacca will make your trip to this Malaysian country more interesting.

Butterfly Farm, Malacca also houses an extensive 400 kinds of rare insects. There is an in-house laboratory where researches on the butterflies are carried on. Butterfly Farm in Malacca is one of its own kind in entire Southeast Asia and the second best in the world. it is also a reptile park which houses several kinds of snakes and miniature houses. Apart being a well known Sightseeing in Malacca this place is also apt for school excursions. A visit to this park will be a learning experience for both the adults and children.

Apart from a museum there is also a souvenir shop within the premises of Butterfly Farm, Malacca. If you feel tired while exploring the butterfly garden, there is a café where you can chill out. Butterfly Farm, Malacca is worth your visit.

 

Camaroon highlands of Malaysia

Cameron Highlands is one of the few places in Malaysia, where insects are collected regularly and exported. There are some insect dealers in Tanah Rata and as well in Tapah. Tanah Rata is a nice small town in the middle of the Highlands and has an interesting feature like butterfly farm It is not as spectacular and big as the Penang butterfly farm; but it has many birdwings flying around, the most amazing of which is Trogonoptera brookiana albescens. This species was named after the first white Rajah of Malaysia, named James Brooke. It is a common saying that the butterflies contain the soul of this white Rajah. The farm also exhibits some other insect species, such as Walking leaves (Phyllium bioculatum), Stick insects and Dead Leave (Deroplatys spp.) and Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus). All in all, it is worth a visit, especially as the entrance fee is quite cheap.

In Malaysia within the lowland dipetercarp and hill forests dwell more than 1,032 species of butterflies, which present unlimited opportunities for the delightful hobby of butterfly watching. The butterfly represents tranquility, grace and freedom. Unfortunately, they are extremely sensitive to the environment and have an extremely short life span -- only an average of two weeks. Catching sight of these living works of art is a wonderful experience that should be cherished.

Malaysian butterflies can be roughly divided into highland and lowland species though some can be found at all elevations. The Clipper (Parthenos Sylvia), for example, is a lowland species that is frequently found at the edge of the rainforest and scrub areas. On the other hand, the Malay Lacewing (Cerhosia Hypsea) lives on both lowland and hilly areas. The Raja Brooke Birdwing is the most famous of Malaysian butterflies. It was discovered in 1885 by A.R. Wallace and named after the first Rajah of Sarawak.

The amateur who is taking the plunge in butterfly watching for the first time should first note the behaviour of tropical butterflies. Large numbers of butterflies are seasonal, often coming with moderately wet weather after a dry spell and an abundance of flowers and new leaves. Generally, they prefer a cool, moist and leafy habitat. Butterfly hotspots are flowers, hilltops, mud puddles and caterpillar food plants. Flowers often attract butterflies because of the nectar they produce. Sometimes a plant or tree that is in full bloom will have swarms of butterflies feeding on its nectar. Many species are also attracted to rotting fruits and animal urine. Certain areas attract certain species. For example, the majestic Raja Brooke Birdwing is often hovering near river banks, while the Blue Crow and Banded Yeoman are fond of clearings and the forest edge. Though many butterflies start searching for food early in the morning, they are most active between 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. It is recommended that dull coloured clothes be worn, and that you arm yourself with a pair of binoculars.

Three popular tourist spots where one can observe highland butterflies are Fraser's Hill, Cameron Highlands and Bukit Larut in Perak. Though Fraser's Hill (1,524m) and Cameron Highlands (1,462m to 1,755 m) are in Pahang, they are both accessible from Kuala Lumpur. Bukit Larut (1,054m) is only 7 km from Taiping in Perak, and forms part of the Bukit Larut Forest Reserve. Among the recommended areas in the lowlands for butterfly watching are Pantai Aceh Forest Reserve on Penang Island; Paya Indah Wetlands Sanctuary in Putrajaya; Templer's Park and Kanching Forest Reserve in Kuala Lumpur and Air Keroh Forest Reserve on the northern fringe of Melaka town. All these areas can be visited on a day trip.

At Fraser's Hill, the WWF-sponsored Nature Education Centre in the sports complex dispenses maps showing the nature trails around its seven hillocks. For butterfly watching, the Mager Trail is the most rewarding, and the area around the Jeriau Waterfalls also teems with colourful flitting creatures. Choose those trails that meander past waterfalls and alongside streams. The Parit Fall and Robinson Waterfalls are also hot spots for butterflies. Bukit Larut is located in the wettest region in the country, with most of the forest trails near its summit.

Visitors who do not wish to trek in the jungle can visit one of the five butterfly farms in the country: namely, Penang Butterfly Farm, Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Farm, Cameron Highland Butterfly Farm, Melaka Butterfly Park and Poring Butterfly Farm in Sabah

The Insect Museum is packed with more than 2,000 specimens, including 600 species of butterflies and moths 800 species of beetles and other creepy crawlies.

The Poring Butterfly Farm is located in the settlement of Poring, 40km southwest of Kinabalu Park headquarters. The farm is divided into four areas; namely; netted enclosure, exhibition gallery, breeding room and food plant nursery. The netted enclosure is 25 metre square and six metres in height, and houses more than 500 butterflies of various species. In the exhibition gallery, preserved specimens and photographs are displayed. Information panels present interesting facts n the butterfly as such distribution and behavioral characteristics such as mimicry and colouration.

The Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Farm is modelled after the one in Penang, and is nestled within the lush Lake Gardens. Cameron Highlands's butterfly farm is perched atop a plateau, about 5km from Kea Farm in Brinchang. Melaka Butterlfy Park is located in Ayer Keroh, and also includes a marine centre. . There is also a small butterfly park within the sprawling grounds of the Jubli Perak Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Agricultural Park, which is located 5km from Bandar Indera Mahkota near Kuantan.

Facing buying a preserved Raja Brooke Birdwing or a Banded Yeoman mounted in a decorative glass case as a souvenir? Pop over to Papillion in Batu Caves Light Industrial Estate in Batu Caves, just 10km north of Kuala Lumpur. This is probably the only company in the country that manufactures all sorts of collectibles using the butterfly. There are plastic paper weights, pen holders and key chains with preserved butterflies embedded within them.

Hereunder I post a beautiful FDC showing pictures of 4 butterflies of Malaysia along with brochure brought out by POS, MASs