Sammilan Shetty’s Butterfly Park Near Mangalore

Enveloped in the lush vegetation at the foothills of the Western Ghats in the quaint village of Belvai near Mangalore, you will find a slice of heaven – Sammilan Shetty’s Butterfly Park. As the name suggests, this seven-acre reserve created by Sammilan Shetty is a haven for butterflies of the highly biodiverse Western Ghats. Over 155 species of butterflies have been recorded in this reserve, which is replete with host and nectar-supplying plant species suitable for the region’s butterflies. Here, you can spend hours observing butterflies, photographing them, and enhancing your knowledge about them. And if you crave more, all around are the dense tropical forests and mountain ranges of the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot, welcoming you with their incredible natural aura to be explored and experienced.

The butterfly park is not just about its fluttering beauties but also about its creator – Sammilan Shetty, whose story is an inspiration to many. His obsession with these beloved members of the insect world started when he was pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in Zoology. While working on a project on butterflies for the course, the “butterfly bug” bit him. Since then, his bonding with these animals has only intensified. Although he went a different way for a while by pursuing a career in hospitality and working as a lecturer in the same industry, his passion for butterflies never left him.

Around 2010, he started documenting butterflies around his home in Belvai, where some butterfly host plants grew in the wild. To identify butterflies, the book “Butterflies of India” by the “Butterfly Man of India,” Isaac Kehimkar, came to his rescue, but it also played a bigger role in his life.

“The book inspired me to create butterfly habitat in my land in Belvai. Host plants for butterflies already grew in the wild there, but I started planting nectar plants for adult butterflies. Soon, more and more butterflies found their home in my place,” said Sammilan.

As Sammilan started learning about butterflies, he also shared his knowledge with others through social media, attracting many to his butterfly park. Soon, the media covered stories of his incredible work, and visitors to the park multiplied.

“In 2013, the butterfly park was opened to the public. I was very fortunate to have Isaac Kehimkar Sir inaugurate the park. Initially, the park was open only during Sundays and public holidays, but then I decided to give up my job and dedicate myself completely to my park. The park now is open on all days but is especially busy on weekends,” mentioned Sammilan.

Today, not just nature lovers and butterfly enthusiasts but also butterfly researchers and students arrive at this park to observe and record all about butterflies. Their research aids in conserving these important members of the insect world whose acts of pollination help many plant species thrive. Butterflies also form an integral part of the local ecosystem’s food chain by serving as prey for many predator species. Sammilan himself has also produced a remarkable documentary entitled “Life of Butterflies” featuring the secret lives of the butterflies of his park that is both entertaining and educational.

At the park, you can observe not just butterflies that are renowned for their beauty, like the Southern birdwing, Malabar-banded peacock, Tamil lacewing, and blue mormon, but also many rare species like the blue nawab, banded royal, great evening brown, and more. And it is not just the adult butterflies that are a treat to the eyes. The fascinating forms and colors of the different stages of a butterfly, from eggs to caterpillar and pupa, can all be observed at this park and are a wonder to behold.

The park also hosts several butterfly-related events throughout the year, including the “Belvai Butterfly Meet” and “Summer Walks.” The former provides the opportunity to learn from butterfly experts from across India who visit the park during the meet to share their knowledge, and the latter includes observing summer butterfly behavior like mud-puddling while walking in the nearby forests, also in the company of experts.

In addition, the park also does not let its non-butterfly members go unnoticed. Workshops on frogs, mushrooms, etc., are now conducted at the park with the help of experts, making the park a true center of nature learning.

Thus, Sammilan Shetty’s Butterfly Park is a testimony to how one individual can contribute so significantly to conservation. It shows how taking a risk to follow one’s dream is worthwhile when there is enough passion and determination. Today, Sammilan Shetty’s Butterfly Park not only helps provide a secure habitat to the region’s butterflies but also inspires many visitors to create such butterfly habitats where they live, magnifying the work done by Sammilan.

Written by Dr. Oishimaya Sen Nag

Photographs by Sammilan Shetty

Cover Photo : TW Media 

Author: Anirban