Serving as a home for different butterfly and bird species, the Tropical Butterfly Conservatory sandwiched between the Cauvery and the Kollidam river at Srirangam has become one of the major leisure attraction in the district attracting visitors from different places.

Established by the Forest Department with a host of facilities aimed at conserving butterfly species, the 25-acre conservatory, the largest in Asia, attracted around 2.6 lakh visitors last year.  Ever since the conservatory surrounded by greenery with host and nectar plants raised inside was thrown open in November 2015, there has been a steady increase in butterfly species. Presently, the conservatory houses 131 butterfly species, 119 bird species and more than 450 plant species.

The butterfly species recorded inside the conservatory include Southern Birdwing, Blue Mormon, Yellow Orange Tip, Dark Wanderer, Redspot, Bamboo Treebrown, Monkey Puzzle, African Marbled Skipper and Grass Demon.  The green environment within the conservatory has attracted different bird species, including Spotted Dove, Asian Openbill, Coppersmith Barbet, Blue-faced Malkoha, White-throated Kingfisher and Black-rumped Flameback, said a Forest Department official.

The Forest Department has been raising host plants essential for butterfly sustenance, nectar plants and ornamental flora designed to captivate visitors. The official said sprinklers have been put up covering all areas within the sprawling conservatory to save the plants from withering, especially during the ongoing summer season. 

The official said the reason for butterfly species from other regions migrating to the conservatory was that a large number of nectar plants had been planted and maintained.  Butterflies also play a crucial role in the food chain and thrive exclusively in environments which are clean, lush green and free from pollution, the official said. 

The conservatory features an array of facilities including an indoor conservatory, a breeding lab, mud-puddling areas, ‘Nakshatra Vanam’, ‘Rasi Vanam’, an Amphitheatre, Interpretation centre, a butterfly - shaped island and a weather station. Various recreational facilities have been created inside the conservatory such as children’s park, boating facility and battery operated cars to attract visitors.

The conservatory gets a footfall of about 500 to 600 visitors on an average daily with the figure exceeding 1,000 on holidays and during summer seaon.  The official further said the conservatory had attracted till date about 22 lakh visitors ever since it was thrown open in 2015.