Butterfly lovers can now look forward to releasing a just-out-of-the-cocoon little creature in the open and also getting the special moment photographed at an expense of Rs 50.
By doing this, they become partners in conservation of butterflies under a community-led project for their captive rearing.
Volunteers of NGO "Nature Mates-Nature Club" are collecting butterfly larvae and pupae in a butterfly garden at Eco-Tourism Park in New Town.
"We are rearing larvae and pupae, collected from the eco-park, in a special lab inside the butterfly garden. Their growth is monitored by our experts, but they are kept in a natural environment," Arjan Basu Roy, secretary of Nature Mates, told PTI.
On maturing, the pupa breaks its cocoon to emerge as a butterfly. It soon spreads out its wings to fly during which enthusiasts can come and release it in the open air.
Started last week, they are charging Rs 50 from each such butterfly lover, the funds for which would go for conservation of butterflies.
"You can also get a photograph of yours clicked while releasing the butterfly as a memento of the beautiful moment. This will make you a partner in conservation," Roy said.
West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation's chairman and MD Debashis Sen, which runs the eco-park, said it is perhaps the first such butterfly park in the country.
"We are trying to reconnect urban space with nature. It will also help people to learn about the wonderful world of butterflies," he said.
