The ‘butterfly park’ at Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, which was badly damaged during the Hudhud cyclone on October 12, 2014, was repaired and reopened for the public on Thursday.
The butterfly park was repaired with Rs.2.5 lakh and opened with six species and 80 specimens.
sThe six species include plain tiger, common rose, common marmone, common bull, spotted sword tail and crimson rose, according to Zoo curator B. Vijay Kumar.
He said there were plans to include 25 more species, available in the surroundings, in course of time. Butterflies are cold-blooded invertebrates with a life span of two to four weeks.
Plants, which serve as food for butterflies, were procured and planted inside the butterfly park enclosure as also outside to attract the butterflies so as to complete the lifecycle. The plant species raised in the enclosure include aristolachia spp, bambax, calotrophis, ixora, citrus spp, hibiscus spp, nerium spp, muraya (curry leaf), polyaithia spp, seethaphal and maredu. Boards depicting the life history and ecological importance of butterflies are displayed for the benefit of visitors.
Vizag Zoo is one among the few zoological parks to display butterflies, Mr. Vijay Kumar added.
