Located just a few minutes away from the stretch of hotels and resorts in Batu Ferringhi the Penang Butterfly Farm is the first of its kind in the world. First established in the year 1986 the farm now features over 150 species. The Butterfly Farm also has incorporated a nature park into its complex which means it also has a reptile enclosure where these no legged animals can be seen in their natural environment.
Visitors can walk around the lush tropical environment of the farm, where they will encounter numerous species of butterfly. The well designed garden is lined with several pathways visitors can chose which one they want to take and plan their excursion in to the park. Apart from the butterflies a number of other attractions can also be found here, the Mini Zoo has a collection of live insects such as lizards, toads and beetles. The Insect Museum also displays various species of butterfly, lizard and other reptile and amphibian creatures.
Of special importance is the collection of Asian artifacts that are housed at a museum called the Art and Artifact Museum., the museum claims to display the largest collection of south east Asian art and other regional tribal artifacts. The Caterpillar Club is targeted at younger visitors and serves as an introduction to etymology for children. The well stocked gift shop is a great place to pick up something for friends and relatives back home. It has a collection of gift items such as butterfly key chains and crystal paperweights that have various butterfly specimens inside.
When the Penang Butterfly Farm was founded the creators of the project wanted it to be more than just another tourist attraction in Malaysia. The purpose behind its establishment was to build a live museum that would educate the public about the importance different species in the eco system and also to serve as a regional research centre on insects and etymology. Since it is located in a reputed tourist belt there would be no difficulty in finding a
Penang hotel for accommodation.
