Gearing up to welcome visitors

VISITORS who are eager to visit the nature’s largest classroom and discovery hub – Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm – would have to be patient just a little longer.

Entopia head of horticulture Lim Wui Tiong said that Entopia is currently boosting its butterfly population to ensure that visitors get the ultimate experience when they visit the premises.

“We used to have about 15,000 butterfly population at our garden any one time. We are now boosting the butterfly population and we are also working on other preparation before opening Entopia to the visitors.

A butterfly is enjoying the nectar of the flowers at Entopia.

“We have to be very careful. The butterflies need the right conditions to breed such as the right humidity and temperature.

“The average lifespan of an adult butterfly is around two weeks. Hence, we must release about 5,000 butterflies a week into the garden to maintain the butterfly population at about 15,000 at any one time.

“We would transfer the chrysalises from our farm to the pupa chamber located in the garden every morning.

The butterflies are being released from the pupa chamber into the garden.

“We will then wait for a few days for the butterfly to emerge before releasing them into the garden.

“The butterflies will normally emerge from their chrysalises in about seven days. Some may take longer than that, especially the big butterfly species,” he told Buletin Mutiara today.

Lim (far back) in a photo with the news team from Buletin Mutiara.

Lim said that different divisions in Entopia (the breeder team, horticulture team, insect team, zoology team and others) were working very hard to sustain Entopia.

“Everyone has a role to play. We want our visitors to have a wonderful time here when we reopen,” he said.

The butterflies emerge from their chrysalises.

Entopia chief of sales and marketing May Ang said that Entopia is scheduled to reopen on March 19.

“Our butterflies can’t wait to welcome the visitors!

“We will ensure strict compliance to the new normal standard operating procedures (SOPs) and we will continue to take precautionary measures to curb and minimize the risk of Covid-19 infection.

“We strive to provide a safe and worry-free experience to our visitors at Entopia,” she said.