State’s first private butterfly park inaugurated at Belvai

State’s first private butterfly park inaugurated at Belvai

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, August 18, 2013: The State’s first private   butterfly park at Belvai, an initiative of an enthusiastic youngster named Sammilan Shetty  was inaugurated on August 18, Sunday in the presence of several dignitaries.  Isaac Kehimkar, General Manager, Programmes – Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Mumbai declared open the park. Sammilan Shetty’s website www.butterflyparkbelvai.com was also launched on the occasion.

The Butterfly park spread over 7.35 acres  of ancestral property of Sammilan is located on the foot of Kanthavara Forest in Belvai village. The park hosts around 113 species including  some of the rarest varieties.  It  will be open for visitors  on Sundays from 8.30 am to 12.30 pm.

 

In his address,  Kehimkar said  India has around 1500 species of butterflies and appreciated the hard works put in by Sammilan in creating the park.

Dr Shubhalakshmi Vaylure, Deputy Director, BHNS, Mumbai who  presided over the function, said Sammilan’s butterfly park is the second such private park in India, the first park located at Mumbai. There is a need to protect these smaller species which are amazing creatures on this earth, she added.

Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP, Dr N A Madhyastha, Member Karnataka State Wildlife Board and  Dr Arunachalam Kumar, Director,Research and Development, Nitte University were the chief guests.