Researchers and butterfly watchers at the Thenmala Butterfly Park have a reason to jump with joy! A few days back, C. Sushanth and M.S. Akhil spotted and photographed the rare Lesser Blue wing Dragonfly on the premises during their monthly butterfly and dragonfly monitoring exercise. This medium-sized dragonfly has bright metallic blue markings on the base of its wings. It is usually found in marshy areas and ponds.
The park was inaugurated by then Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balkrishnan in early 2008. It is Asia’s first Butterfly Safari Park, and is located in the hilly region of Kollam district. Visitors to the Thenmala Eco-tourism Park can spend half a day at the Butterfly Safari Park. It is situated behind the musical fountain in the cultural zone.
The Entomology Department of Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) has made a half-kilometre-long nature trail, where people can watch butterflies (about 125 species) at close quarters. There are a variety of trees, ponds and mud puddles that help the butterflies to breed and survive.