This Coimbatore Butterfly Park With 103 Species Now Open To Public

The Butterfly Park at Kulakarai, Vellalore in the Coimbatore district has been opened for public use, and entry to the park is free for everyone. Since 2017, the Coimbatore Ponds Protection Organisation has cleared the waterway of the Vellalore pond and brought water to the pond. Afterwards, various works were started in an attempt to turn the pond into a model pond.

Apart from this, with the help of the Nature and Butterfly Association team, they conducted a butterfly survey at the pond for one year. Out of this, 103 species of butterflies were found and documented in Vellalore Pond. The Coimbatore Ponds Conservation Organization decided to set up a butterfly park on the banks of the pond to improve the living environment for many creatures, protect the butterfly species, and bring awareness to the public about the living environment of many creatures.

The park has been set up for Rs 66 lakh with the permission of the Water Resources Department and with the financial support of private companies. The butterfly park is open to school and college students from Monday to Saturday and to the general public on Sunday.

Regarding this, Sujay from the Coimbatore Ponds Conservation Committee said that the Coimbatore Ponds Conservation Organization was set up by volunteers. “In 2017, after the Jallikattu protest, we started a group on Facebook to plan to save the ponds. Apart from that, we dug the pond with the help of social workers. Then came to know about this Vellalore pond. There has been no water in this pond for twelve years. Then we started renovating the canal in collaboration with the government. We gave a house to those who were there in the housing board unit.”

He further said that they planted several herbs and medicinal plants near the pool. “We planted herbs and medicinal plants in this place next to the pond. After that, the butterflies started coming into the park. Then we documented the butterflies in collaboration with The Nature and Butterfly Society.”

According to a year-long butterfly census, 103 butterfly species were present at the Vellalore Tank. A book titled The Butterflies of Vellalore Wetland was also published to spread information. “Now the park is open, and the public is allowed here only on Sunday. On other days, we are open for college students, school students, and documentarians,” he said.