The state’s first privately-owned butterfly park at Belvai village near Moodbidri will be inaugurated by butterfly expert Isaac Kehimkar on Sunday.
Park director and conservationist Sammilan Shetty told reporters here on Tuesday that the park is spread across 7.35 acres and located on the fringe of Kanthavara forest between Moodbidri and Karkala on NH-13.
The park is home to more than 100 species of butterflies, including some endemic and dazzling species like Malabar Branded Peacock (Papilio budha), Southern Birdwing (Troides minos), Malabar Rose, Paris Peacock (Papilio paris) and Tamil Lacewing (Cethosia nietneri). “Our mission is to conserve butterflies of the Western Ghats. Visitors are welcome every Sunday from 8.30 am to 12.30 pm,” Sammilan Shetty added.