Butterflies are dainty creatures with a quaint preference for flowers. From the plant they choose to lay their eggs on to the flowers they syphon nectar from, each species of butterfly is attracted to very specific plants.
Conversion of natural forests to agricultural land and human settlements threaten the number of butterflies in the wild. To accommodate these pretty flying insects, we created a butterfly garden with a careful selection of plants and trees; allowing them the freedom to find a home similar to their natural ones, even in a concrete-laden city.
Sri Lanka is home to 246 species of butterflies.
Our butterfly garden is home to 1/5 of the species found in Sri Lanka.
26 species of butterflies found in Sri Lanka are endemic.
Confined to a relatively small 750 sqm area, Dilmah Conservation’s urban open-air Butterfly Garden is home to over 50 species of butterflies found in Sri Lanka.
As cities grow and the natural habitats of these fragile insects are taken up to build homes for us, their numbers in the wild have dwindled. This, coupled with the increase in fogging to bring down the mosquito population, has unwittingly affected the delicate existence of butterflies too.
Dilmah’s Butterfly Garden located in Moratuwa, a bustling city of Sri Lanka, attempts at reversing this scenario by creating a safe and lucrative haven for these mesmerizing creatures.
Butterflies are very picky about the plants they choose to lay their eggs on since caterpillar can feed only on certain types of plant leaves. When creating our butterfly garden, we selected plants that would cater to this need and resemble their natural habitats. Here, we also conduct regular workshops to teach people how they too can help in protecting them, even in an urban landscape.
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