It’s an open garden where visitor can see flying butterflies, can touch them and also can observe these delicate pollinators as they flutter gracefully from bloom to bloom, bask in sunlight, or lay eggs on host plants amid vibrant greenery.

Open air butterfly garden

To bring this experience to the public, the West Bengal Zoo Authority is set to develop an open-air butterfly garden within the premises of Alipore Zoological Garden in Kolkata. The initiative is aimed at promoting biodiversity conservation while enhancing environmental awareness among visitors, particularly tourists.

Officials said, this butterfly garden will be constituted beside the zoo library. “to promote eco-friendly tourism and foster greater awareness about the importance of butterfly conservation and biodiversity, we are making this butterfly garden,” said an official of Alipore Zoological Garden.

Opened for tourists

This garden will be open air and also will be opened for audience. The project will focus on creating a sustainable, butterfly-friendly habitat by incorporating native plant species that support both caterpillars and adult butterflies through their life cycle.

Extensive landscaping will be undertaken to replicate an ideal environment for butterfly breeding and feeding. Native host plants essential for caterpillar nourishment and egg-laying will be cultivated. Since different butterfly species depend on specific host plants, their inclusion is crucial to ensuring population diversity and stability.

To support adult butterflies, a variety of nectar-rich flowering plants such as Lantana, Zinnias, Pentas, and the Butterfly Bush (Buddleja) will be planted. These have been selected for their climate suitability and proven attractiveness to local butterfly species, ensuring seasonal or continuous activity within the garden.

What is the cost

With an estimated construction cost of ₹4,95,937, the garden will serve as a key addition to Alipore Zoo’s eco-tourism efforts, offering both educational value and an immersive, nature-based experience. The West Bengal Zoo Authority envisions the project as a model for sustainable conservation and environmental learning in urban spaces.