Coelogyne rochussenii orchids are back in Penang Butterfly Farm!

Rouchussen’s Coelogyne is one of their common names.Some local communities called them the Indian Lady Orchid because these orchids are often used as hair ornament in the Indian Culture. What’s interesting it that, in the farm, we noticed them blooming when its very near Indian Festival. The last time they bloomed, it was near Thaipusam celebration, January this year. Then they started blooming few days ago, on the month of Deepavali! Isn’t that such a coincident? Or is it really a coincident? Hmm.. let’s see if this repeats next year.

Anyway, the orchid’s scientific name was after J.J Rochussen, governor-general of the Dutch East Indies in the mid 19th century. This species is commonly found in South East Asia Region including Malaya, Borneo, Java and Sumatra and the Philippines. In the wild they may be found growing on large trees in the lowland forest. My favourite thing about them is their sweet citrus-ish scent. The butterflies love them too! Do come by Penang Butterfly Farm to see (or smell) them before they wither.

It was glorious day. From the beautiful island of Nauru, His Excellency Marcus Stephen pays us a visit to explore our newly upgraded butterfly garden.

Located in the South Pacific, Republic of Nauru is the world’s smallest island nation covering only 21 square kilometres with a human population of around 20,000! Yet, the island has beautiful butterflies just like we do.

Penang Butterfly Farm brings new horizon to the northern region as well as to Penangʼs tourism industry. While the farm celebrates its 25th Anniversary, it has also recently gone through a transformation and now stands recognised as one of the most fascinating and beautiful tropical butterfly aviary in the region, with many newly added educational outdoor and indoor attractions. As one of the earliest live butterfly exhibits that have been set up in the world, the farmʼs new highlight is its newly enhanced & heightened butterfly enclosure, where visitors can freely explore its flourishing lush tropical gardens which hosts a variety of common and rare species of butterflies, together with many other exciting living creatures.

With the enhancements and additions in place, one will find the journey in the butterfly garden a refreshing and inspiring experience. One of its newly built attraction: The Tree of Life, is where one can watch Mother Natureʼs very own butterflies in the making! Here you can simply observe more closely the many behaviours & activities of the butterflies from female butterfly egg-laying contests to feasts of craving hungry caterpillars of Mother Naturesʼ artwork in various design of chrysalis. If youʼre lucky, you might just get to see what comes crawling out from a chrysalis (or pupa), which is quite a wonder!
With the newly added fun & educational garden attractions such as the Tree of Life, Swing of Love, Rainbow Crab Corner and Stand-By-Me Mascots (Orni, Juro, Tacca, Dagon & Toro), there is still so much more in this enchanted living “museum” waiting to be explored.

After a mystical labyrinth-like journey in the mist-covered tropical gardens, a crescendo of attractions awaits the visitors indoors. Their indoor section is now featuring a new documentary and short nature & insect-related video clips in its mini-cinema and TV displays, some of which can be a really stimulating eye-opener while some might even knock you off your chair!

Visitors can also spend time admiring the photos of blown up faces of various unique insects in the Faces section & counting half-hidden creatures in the Biodiver-City Hall. As one walks deeper in to explore more of the extraordinary, the new Cave of Mystery gives visitors an adventurous time spying on creepy crawlies such as tarantulas and scorpions. Other interesting attractions indoors include Horizon of Bugs, Kingdom of Frogs, Reptile Zone and Aqua Fun Corner, where visitors can get very up close to and adore a new variety of unusual insects, arthropods, amphibians and reptiles. Most of these live exhibits are also presented with the latest technologies, such as interactive touch-screen LCD displays which offer information on the exhibits with the touch of your fingertips. Visitors are sure to find these impressively designed exhibits, halls and walkways quite a mysterious come-alive adventure! To get you even more excited, what can be found in those sections are surely something that you have never before encountered!

Other than all these new additions with renewed educational signages for learning & interpretation, the farm also offers Nature Guided Tours to all its visitors to better interpret their experiences in going through this recreated butterfly habitat. Have a question about a plant or animal in the farm? Just ask the farmʼs Nature Specialists and they will gladly share more of their knowledge on that topic with you. With plenty to learn, read and view, adults and children can enjoy and experience Mother Nature through the various levels of interpretation and philosophy that the farm offers.

A walk in Penang Butterfly Farmʼs newly upgraded garden is truly a rejuvenating one and for some, it can be an exclusively enchanting experience. Stepping out of the garden, another experience is truly one of a kind that is: the indoor walk-through. It is so captivating and engaging! So donʼt just take anyoneʼs word for it, visit the transformed Penang Butterfly Farm for yourself and experience the splendour of its new butterfly sanctuary and its state-of-the-art attractions!

A memory of the past with flowers & butterflies, a nostalgic feeling with nature, waterfalls, ponds, monkey cups, insects, reptiles, etc… that’s how I remembered Penang Butterfly Farm as all this while. I surely think that’s how you recalled it too right? But recently there has been a transformation that will change the rightful future of this butterfly sanctuary, and the feeling of something new, something special, something fresh, something fascinating, something fun and something magical is about to fill our experience… a miraculous transformation. ƸӜƷ Ahhh… I can’t say more as I have to help prepare the new exhibits now.

Anyway, dear friends & fans of the farm, you are all invited to experience the new Penang Butterfly Farm in June 2011! See you then!