A day of butterflies, bugs & lizards
By Liz Price
Pictures by LIZ PRICE & K. E. OOI
Penang Butterfly Farm
830, Jalan Teluk Bahang
11050 Pahang
(04) 885 1741
Open from Mon – Fri, 9am-5.30pm. Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, 9am –6pm. Admission: RM9 (Malaysian) and RM12.50 (foreigner).
My American visitors wanted to go to the Penang Butterfly Farm but I was a bit sceptical as I am not a fan of these places. However, as the Americans were entomologists and in Malaysia on a research trip, I agreed to go. And I am glad I did.
The lush Penang Butterfly Farm.
The tourist leaflets describe the farm as “the world’s first tropical live butterfly sanctuary”. It was set up in 1986 as a living museum, to educate the public as well as to serve as a research centre.
As we entered through the double doors into the 41m x 43m enclosure, it was like stepping into a tropical greenhouse. There were ponds, a small stream and lush green plants. The butterflies fluttered around us in a riot of colour. They seemed totally unconcerned with our presence and would come to rest on the flowers, plants and rock surfaces, as if to have their photo taken. It was a cameraman’s dream and a lepidopterist’s delight.
There are between 3,000 and 4,000 butterflies here, representing over 120 species. I learnt that the life span of a butterfly is only two weeks. It seems amazing that Mother Nature designed such beautiful creatures only to give them such a short life.
They were of such varied colours that I kept taking photos, as each butterfly seemed nicer than the last one. Some of the visitors walked through the park quite quickly, but the three of us were engrossed in marvelling at these beauties.
Butterflies and moths come under the biological order of Lepidoptera. Butterflies typically fly during the day, and have clubbed or dilated antennae and two pairs of usually brightly coloured wings held erect when at rest. Moths on the other hand are generally nocturnal, often drably coloured, and distinguished from butterflies as having a stout body. They also lack clubbed antennae, and fold their wings flat when at rest.
The most famous of the Malaysian butterflies is the Rajah Brooke’s Birdwing. It was first discovered in Borneo in 1855 by A.R. Wallace, and was named after the first British Rajah of Sarawak.
There are various stations around the farm, where you can learn about what you are seeing. The butterfly stations feature the eggs, caterpillars and pupae. For instance, did you know that a female butterfly will lay her eggs on a particular food plant, so that her baby caterpillars will only eat the leaves that are suitable to them. These caterpillars then pupate before emerging as a brand new butterfly. Further on is the butterfly identification corner which names the different species.
My interest was drawn to the scorpion pit. My first real encounter with the scorpion was in Africa, when I was shown how the tail becomes luminescent under ultra violet light. One of the expedition members had caught a scorpion and had put it on a white dinner plate to demonstrate this luminescence.
Scorpions are arachnids and have lobster-like pincers and a jointed tail that can bend over to sting its prey. I have seen scorpions in several caves in Malaysia, but they tend to be smaller than their cousins in the forest. The ones in the butterfly farm were much bigger. We learnt that a male scorpion will hold the pincers of the female and dance with her as part of the pre-mating ritual. After the young are born the female carries them around on her back.
We passed some tanks of aquatic insects such as the water scorpions. These creatures breathe through their tails, which they use like a periscope. The snake corner houses whip snakes which are not poisonous. They generally hang from trees and are quite well camouflaged.
You'll find many species of butterflies and moths at the Penang Butterfly Farm.
In the centre of the enclosure is a koi pond surrounded by Heliconias and pitcher plants. The Japanese carp are quite tame and you can buy food with which to feed them. It was quite peaceful with the sound of the gently running water and the chirping of finches. These birds are seed eaters so do not disturb the butterflies.
The reptile stations house a variety of lizards and geckos, such as the green iguana from Central and South America, and the Horned Tree Lizard which blended in well with its surroundings.
But the true masters of camouflage are the phasmids or stick insects. People would glance at the display cabinet and say “There’s nothing there”, and move on. But the stick insects are so well camouflaged that it takes time and patience to spot them. They include Moving Leaf Insects, Walking Stick Insects and Thorny Stick Insects.
The Little Zoo is a room highlighting Malaysian insects such as the huge Three-Horned Rhino Beetle and a rare Orchid Mantis. Also on display are giant Tarantulas and various species of giant and colourful beetles.
The insect museum claims to be the first of its kind in the country. It is an exhibition of colour as well as beauty as about 2,000 specimens are on display including 600 species of butterflies and moths and 800 species of beetles and other insects. The emphasis of the museum is on education, and clearly displays the evolution and classification of the incredible insect world.
The trail then led to the ubiquitous gift shop. But even this was better than most. Firstly, we entered the Art Gallery which has a wide selection of exclusive batik paintings. I was about to hurry through here as I am not an art fan, but my friends were fascinated by the collection and browsed for ages before making several purchases.
Then we entered the Artifacts and Tribal Arts Gallery. This has a wide range of fascinating objects from all over the South-East Asian and Pacific regions. We spent quite a time in here, and all made purchases.
Lastly is the souvenir shop which has many species of mounted butterflies and insects for sale. It was good to know that these had come from the farm rather than caught in the wild.
My entomologist friends were able to buy samples of the species which particularly interested them. Having gone to the butterfly farm expecting to spend an hour or so there, we realised we had been inside much longer. But it was worthwhile, as it is a fascinating place. Go and check it out for yourself.
Originally published in The Star on Saturday April 17, 2004
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