I don't know about you but for me, visiting natural parks and hills are definitely one of my favorite pastimes.

The tranquility, serenity and undisturbed nature have made me appreciated for there is still a place on earth that has been spared from the onslaught of modern development.

One of it that we are talking about TODAY! is The Penang Butterfly Farm.

Located at Teluk Bahang, a short drive from the stretch of hotels at Batu Ferringhi, the one hectares farm are the homes and sanctuary to a wide variety of insects, reptiles, fishes, plants and of course beautiful butterflies.

Penang Butterfly Farm has a population of 4,000 live tropical butterflies from 120 different species, including some very rare and famous ones, like the Indian Leaf (Kallima Paralekta), the endangered Yellow Bird wing (Troides Helena) and the Rajah Brooke's Bird wing, arguably Malaysia's most famous butterflies.


Upon reaching the farm, a giant three horn rhino beetle statue sited on the man made rocks will greet and welcome you. Parking is FREE if you drive on your own.

You'll need to pay entrance fees before going in. Information brochure is given upon entering to help walk your way around the farm. The brochure provides the actual name of the plants, insects and others small creatures that can be found there.

Inside you can see lush and well designed landscaped garden lined with several pathways. Along this pathway, you can find insect station such as caterpillar, scorpions and giant millipede, flowing fountains and a fish pond. Of course, not forgetting thousands of tropical butterflies flying freely in the farms.

Others activities and attraction in Penang Butterfly Farms
includes:

• Mini Zoo - Consist of live collection of small insect
  such as grandis lizards, beetles, horned toad,
  oriental water dragon and many more.
  
• Insect Museum - A wide range of insect species
  on display such as butterflies, beetles lizard just to
  name a few.
  
• Art & Artifact Gallery - Featuring the largest
  exhibition of South East Asian art in the country
  displaying unique artifacts and tribal arts
  
• Gift & Souvenir Outlet - Here you can find lots of
  memorable items such as key chain, decorative
  crystal paperweight using dead animals, glass
  replication of insects and many more.
  
• Caterpillar Club (CC) - Education to introduce
  young ones to the world of insects and at the
  same time, give them a precursory feel of
  entomology, or the study of insects. Please
  contact the Penang Butterfly Farm for more info about
  these programs.

Mini Zoo

Bearded Dragon

Rhino Beetle

Sadly to say that butterfly is a very fragile creature and has an average lifespan of only 3 days.

Not only that, according to comments given by Dr. Mark Collins at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, not even one butterfly species has become extinct through collecting. It's the destruction of natural habitat that is speeding up the annihilation of the butterflies.

So, appreciate the beauty of this mesmerizing creature before it disappears.