Nestled in a village near the international border between India and Bangladesh in the South District of Tripura, a butterfly park developed by the Forest Service is now a major attraction for tourists from different parts of the country, including Bangladesh.
The Butterfly EcoPark in Chottakhola, near the Trishna WildLife Sanctuary, is the Northeast’s premier butterfly park. It was inaugurated in 2016 on 5.5 hectares of land with 250 species of butterflies.
“Many tourists visit the butterfly park. There are tourists from inland and also from neighboring Bangladesh. The park is close to the endangered bison park in the Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary and the Indo-Bangla Maitri Park to commemorate the Bangladesh Liberation War. So tourists can see three spots in one visit,” Deputy Forest Conservator Krishnagopal Roy told PTI.
He said there is a breeding facility for the winged animal, and many plants that the butterfly likes have been planted to provide a good habitat for the insect, and artificial food is sometimes distributed as well.
Tripura Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said that Trishna Wild Life Sanctuary and its surroundings will attract a large number of tourists and contribute to the state’s economic development.
Chowdhury stressed the need to develop a tourist circuit that integrates other attractive sights of the region.
According to animal and environmental experts, butterflies are an indicator of good ecological balance and healthy nature.
The Forest Service has decided to promote butterflies as an aspect of tourism development in Tripura as tourists from within the state and even out of state can experience the soothing sight of flocks of butterflies moving from one side of the park to the other.
“There are many ways to promote butterflies as a tourist attraction as the state has its own vegetation diversity with many plants of medicinal value growing naturally here and is home to more than 250 species of butterflies. All of these butterflies have their own specific character and offer the viewer an unforgettable experience,” said Roy.
The department conducted a statewide survey and found that such parks could be established in twenty more locations, forest officials said.
“The lifespan of butterflies is very short. They live only 15 days to about 30 days. But even in this short time, the butterfly brings joy to people. They play an important role in beautifying the ecosystem of the environment,” Chowdhury said.
KS Shethy, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF), said: “Although Tripura is small in size, there is no shortage of wildlife and biodiversity here. Tripura has about 250 butterfly species. These colorful butterflies are loved by everyone including children. Therefore, the Forest Service is trying to increase the number of butterflies to make the country’s tourism industry more attractive.
According to wildlife and environmental experts, butterflies are an indicator of good ecological balance and healthy nature.
According to Tripura Forest Service sources, “There are many opportunities in Tripura to promote butterflies as a tourist attraction. The state, which has its own variety of vegetation, is home to more than 250 species of butterflies. All these butterflies have their own character and give the viewer an unforgettable experience”.
Meanwhile, in an effort to promote butterflies, the Tripura Forest Service recently declared Common Birdwing the state butterfly and took some steps to promote the pristine insect as a means of attracting tourists.
It is also possible to earn a large amount of foreign exchange by exporting butterflies.
“Because a butterfly gives early warning of environmental disasters, it also plays a special role in protecting the natural environment. Climate change can be learned by observing the behavior of butterflies.
“Butterflies are not only objects of beauty or research, but also of economic importance. Commercial import and export of butterflies can bring in millions of dollars each year. $20 million to $30 million worth of butterflies are traded worldwide each year,” Wald officials said.
The minister expressed concern: “Recently, the number of butterflies and their natural habitats has been declining at an alarming rate due to global human pollution and climate change. Therefore they must be preserved.”
This story was published from a wire agency feed with no changes to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
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