Jamshedpur, December 21, 2024: Tata Steel Zoological Park (TSZP) is proud to announce the inauguration of Butterfly House, a state-of-the-art facility designed to celebrate the beauty and ecological importance of butterflies.
The event was inaugurated by Chanakya Chaudhary, Vice President Corporate Services, Tata Steel in presence Ritu Raj Sinha, Managing Director, Tata Steel Utilities and Infrastructure Services Limited and Abhijit Avinash Nanoti, Managing Director, JCAPCPL (Jamshedpur Continuous Annealing & Processing Company Private Limited) besides esteemed gathering of dignitaries and employees.
In a heartwarming gesture that underscores Tata Steel’s ethos of valuing and recognising its employees, Chanakya Chaudhary requested Malti Manjhi, one of the zoo’s dedicated keepers, to perform the ceremonial ribbon-cutting as an honor. This act highlighted Tata Steel’s commitment to inclusivity and its practice of honoring its workforce, fostering a culture of respect and mutual appreciation.
The event concluded with a guided tour of the Butterfly House, allowing guests to explore the lush landscapes and colorful butterfly species within. The butterfly house is not only a new addition to the zoo but also a space for learning, inspiration, and connecting with nature.
Briefs of Butterfly House and general information
- Project Cost: 1.76 Cr
- Completion time: 8 months
- The Butterfly House has three main components: (a) Education Centre – 102 m2 area (b) Butterfly Breeding Area – 175 m2 area (c) Butterfly Exhibit Area- 410 m2
- 41 species of butterflies have identified inside the Zoo boundary out of which 7 species are breeding at TSZP.
- The zoo has developed expertise and skills in breeding and propagation of eleven species of butterfly e.g. plain tiger, common crow, common castor, angled castor, lime butterfly, common mormon, common jay, common emigrant, mottled emigrant, common grass yellow and small grass yellow.
- Efforts are being done for breeding of other species.
- With the establishment of this Butterfly House, it will now be possible to replenish the species of butterflies in their habitat and help the ecosystem rejuvenate by itself inside & outside TSZP.
- Butterflies completed their life-cycle in four distinct stages; egg, larva, pupa and adult butterfly. Generally, larva hatch after about 3 to 4 days depending on the surrounding temperature. The pupa moulds from the larva it takes time about 7 to 9 days, adult butterfly come out from the pupa in about 7 to 15 days.
- The average life span of a butterfly is 15 to 20 days. Therefore, the total time taken to complete the life-cycle from birth to death is about 35 to 40 days.
- In the stage of egg and pupa no foods require. The larva feed on the leaves and flower of the specific larval food plants and for adult butterfly they feed on the nectar of the flowers.
- Important factor of Butterfly Park are Feeding, Breeding, Sanitation and Temperature- Humidity.
- Feeding, as the food require to larva and adult only in the life-cycle of butterflies. The potted larva-food-plants are changed frequently because the larvae are very voracious eater. Important feeding plants are Curry leaf plant, Nimbu. Citrus species, Lantana, Kaner, Neem, Akwan, Blood flower, Arandi, etc.
- Butterflies are indicators of a healthy environment and healthy ecosystems.
- Butterflies are an important element of the food chain and are prey for birds, bats and other insectivorous animals.
- Butterflies support a range of other predators and parasites, many of which are specific to individual species or groups of species.
