Did you know that vibrant butterflies flying around you are a sign of a healthy environment? Cotigao’s butterfly park in Goa is one of the best places to admire these delicate beautiful creatures.
The park was launched in 2011. It is located in the Cotigao wildlife sanctuary, Canacona. This is Goa’s only butterfly park. The place has an area of 2,000sqm. Its role is to make people aware of the importance of butterflies to the ecosystem.
180 butterfly species have been recorded at the Cotigao butterfly park. Any visitor can easily get a glimpse of 30-40 species! The best time to see them is between 9 in the morning to 12 in the afternoon. Forest officials write down the butterflies’ names they spot daily. Everyday, they see at least 50 species! These include the world’s largest moth (Atlas moth) and Asia’s largest butterfly (Southern Birdwing).
The rarest sighting in the park is the Malabar Banded Swallowtail. What keeps attracting these winged beauties are the carefully selected host and nectar plants planted there.
