| More than two thirds of Malaysia is swathed with | | | | alongside streams. The Parit Fall and Robinson |
| vegetation. Within the lowland dipetercarp and hill | | | | Waterfalls are also hot spots for butterflies. Bukit |
| forests dwell more than 1,032 species of butterflies, | | | | Larut is located in the wettest region in the country, |
| which present unlimited opportunities for the delightful | | | | with most of the forest trails near its summit. |
| hobby of butterfly watching. The butterfly | | | | Visitors who do not wish to trek in the jungle can |
| represents tranquility, grace and freedom. | | | | visit one of the five butterfly farms in the country: |
| Unfortunately, they are extremely sensitive to the | | | | namely, Penang Butterfly Farm, Kuala Lumpur |
| environment and have an extremely short life span -- | | | | Butterfly Farm, Cameron Highland Butterfly Farm, |
| only an average of two weeks. Catching sight of | | | | Melaka Butterfly Park and Poring Butterfly Farm in |
| these living works of art is a wonderful experience | | | | Sabah |
| that should be cherished. | | | | Opened in 1986, Penang Butterfly is the world's first |
| Malaysian butterflies can be roughly divided into | | | | butterfly sanctuary. It is located at Teluk Bahang, |
| highland and lowland species though some can be | | | | about 17 km from Georgetown, and occupies a 0.8 |
| found at all elevations. The Clipper (Parthenos Sylvia), | | | | hectare site. Double doors lead into a 41m x 42m |
| for example, is a lowland species that is frequently | | | | enclosure that houses a landscaped garden with |
| found at the edge of the rainforest and scrub areas. | | | | gargling brooks, koi ponds and quaint curved bridges. |
| On the other hand, the Malay Lacewing (Cerhosia | | | | Dripping foliage of and Within the netted enclosure, |
| Hypsea) lives on both lowland and hilly areas. The | | | | more than 4,000 Malaysian butterflies representing |
| Raja Brooke Birdwing is the most famous of | | | | 120 species flit around your arm's reach. There are |
| Malaysian butterflies. It was discovered in 1885 by | | | | also stations along the meandering pathways that |
| A.R. Wallace and named after the first Rajah of | | | | provide information on the various stages of |
| Sarawak. | | | | butterfly's life cycle -- from egg to caterpillar to |
| The amateur who is taking the plunge in butterfly | | | | pupae. |
| watching for the first time should first note the | | | | Side attractions are the scorpion pit and snake house. |
| behaviour of tropical butterflies. Large numbers of | | | | There is also a tank with aquatics insects such as |
| butterflies are seasonal, often coming with | | | | water scorpions. These creatures breathe through |
| moderately wet weather after a dry spell and an | | | | their tails. The reptile station display several species |
| abundance of flowers and new leaves. Generally, | | | | of giant-sized geckos and lizards from South |
| they prefer a cool, moist and leafy habitat. Butterfly | | | | American and Africa. Try to spot the Thorny Stick |
| hotspots are flowers, hilltops, mud puddles and | | | | Insect, Walking Stick Insect and Moving Leaf Insect |
| caterpillar food plants. Flowers often attract | | | | in other glass cases. The Insect Museum is packed |
| butterflies because of the nectar they produce. | | | | with more than 2,000 specimens, including 600 |
| Sometimes a plant or tree that is in full bloom will | | | | species of butterflies and moths 800 species of |
| have swarms of butterflies feeding on its nectar. | | | | beetles and other creepy crawlies. |
| Many species are also attracted to rotting fruits and | | | | The Poring Butterfly Farm is located in the settlement |
| animal urine. Certain areas attract certain species. For | | | | of Poring, 40km southwest of Kinabalu Park |
| example, the majestic Raja Brooke Birdwing is often | | | | headquarters. The farm is divided into four areas; |
| hovering near river banks, while the Blue Crow and | | | | namely; netted enclosure, exhibition gallery, breeding |
| Banded Yeoman are fond of clearings and the forest | | | | room and food plant nursery. The netted enclosure is |
| edge. Though many butterflies start searching for | | | | 25 metre square and six metres in height, and houses |
| food early in the morning, they are most active | | | | more than 500 butterflies of various species. In the |
| between 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. It is recommended that | | | | exhibition gallery, preserved specimens and |
| dull coloured clothes be worn, and that you arm | | | | photographs are displayed. Information panels present |
| yourself with a pair of binoculars. | | | | interesting facts n the butterfly as such distribution |
| Three popular tourist spots where one can observe | | | | and behavioral characteristics such as mimicry and |
| highland butterflies are Fraser's Hill, Cameron Highlands | | | | colouration. |
| and Bukit Larut in Perak. Though Fraser's Hill (1,524m) | | | | The Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Farm is modelled after |
| and Cameron Highlands (1,462m to 1,755 m) are in | | | | the one in Penang, and is nestled within the lush Lake |
| Pahang, they are both accessible from Kuala Lumpur. | | | | Gardens. Cameron Highlands's butterfly farm is |
| Bukit Larut (1,054m) is only 7 km from Taiping in | | | | perched atop a plateau, about 5km from Kea Farm in |
| Perak, and forms part of the Bukit Larut Forest | | | | Brinchang. Melaka Butterlfy Park is located in Ayer |
| Reserve. Among the recommended areas in the | | | | Keroh, and also includes a marine centre. . There is |
| lowlands for butterfly watching are Pantai Aceh | | | | also a small butterfly park within the sprawling |
| Forest Reserve on Penang Island; Paya Indah | | | | grounds of the Jubli Perak Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah |
| Wetlands Sanctuary in Putrajaya; Templer's Park and | | | | Agricultural Park, which is located 5km from Bandar |
| Kanching Forest Reserve in Kuala Lumpur and Air | | | | Indera Mahkota near Kuantan. |
| Keroh Forest Reserve on the northern fringe of | | | | Facing buying a preserved Raja Brooke Birdwing or a |
| Melaka town. All these areas can be visited on a day | | | | Banded Yeoman mounted in a decorative glass case |
| trip. | | | | as a souvenir? Pop over to Papillion in Batu Caves |
| At Fraser's Hill, the WWF-sponsored Nature Education | | | | Light Industrial Estate in Batu Caves, just 10km north |
| Centre in the sports complex dispenses maps | | | | of Kuala Lumpur. This is probably the only company in |
| showing the nature trails around its seven hillocks. For | | | | the country that manufactures all sorts of collectibles |
| butterfly watching, the Mager Trail is the most | | | | using the butterfly. There are plastic paper weights, |
| rewarding, and the area around the Jeriau Waterfalls | | | | pen holders and key chains with preserved butterflies |
| also teems with colourful flitting creatures. At Tanah | | | | embedded within them. Apart from butterflies, there |
| Rata in Cameron Highlands, visitors can pick up maps | | | | are also scorpions, rhinoceros beetles and stick |
| from Cameron Museum & Information Centre. | | | | insects mounted in glass cases -- they make a good |
| Choose those trails that meander past waterfalls and | | | | conversation piece in one's living room or study. |