Tamil Nadu

Work on butterfly park to begin next month

CHENNAI: Work on a butterfly park at the Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur, is all set to begin during the first week of February, according to Guna Thilakaraj, Professor of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU).

Talking to The Hindu on Tuesday, he said the Rs.4.87-crore park would be set up in the next three years.

The spade work would begin soon. The State government kick-started the project by issuing an order last month.

The Environment and Forest Departments will provide the land. TNAU will carry out the task on turn-key basis.

“In the first stage, we are going to fence the five acres meant for the park, followed by landscaping. The Zoological Park has several deer and it may not be safe to plant any sapling without protecting it. Since Chennai has a hot climate, we can’t have more than 50 species of butterfly. Exotic varieties can’t be housed in the park due to the existing Wildlife Act.

“Viewing of butterflies can be done only during daytime. At any given time, the park can accommodate 40 to 50 visitors. The park will also house an insect museum and pictures of over 1,500 Indian butterflies will be displayed there,” he said.

Tourism Secretary V. Irai Anbu said a lot of spade work had to be done to make the park a reality.

The State Government had appointed TNAU as a nodal agency and sanctioned Rs.1.50 crore for the current year. Entomologists will raise the plants and decide the number of species to be housed in the park.

“We are not adopting the Singapore model. The park will be designed by us. It will serve as an added attraction for children and tourists to see different species of butterfly in a single space,” he added.

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