State's first butterfly park opens in Belvai

August 18, 2013
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Mangalore, Aug 18: Who doesn't like the colourful wings of butterfly fluttering and swaying in the air, hopping over flowers? Well, everyone does but not many spare a minute to think of the fact that how extinct these wonderful creatures have become.

However, looking at the toll modern lifestyle has taken on these tiny creatures an avid butterfly lover and conservationist Sammilan Shetty took a step towards preserving the butterfly species and this step has brought him to the inauguration of a 'Butterfly Park' at Belvai near Karkala, on Sunday.

Named as 'Sammilan Shetty's Butterfly Park', this is the first of its kind in the state. The dedication and planning of two years has finally culminated into an exclusive park for butterflies, with 113 butterfly species living over 7.35 acre land.

Speaking about his love for butterflies, Mr Shetty said that his interest grew while he was working on a project on 'Study of local butterflies'. His Zoology lecturer Ashok C H had designated the topic to him.

Slowly observing the creature, he made up his mind to have park for these creatures which were becoming victim to man's extreme meddling with nature.

“I came across a book on gardening of butterflies authored by Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) Programmes-General Manager Isaac Kehimkar. Taking clues from the book, I too started to plant nectarine flower saplings that attract butterflies, and created an atmosphere that is suitable for the butterflies to lay eggs and breed in the park,” he said.

Dr Arunachalam Kumar, Director of Nitte University (Research and Development) said that thermal power plants are harmful to butterflies as it affects the metamorphosis phase. He said that setting up of power plant at a distance of 15 km would definitely affect the butterfly park.

Karnataka State Wildlife Board Member Dr N A Madhyastha said that butterflies are ecological indicators.

Portal publicflyparkbelvai.com too was launched on the occasion. The website comprises information about butterflies and the butterfly park. The park developed at a cost of Rs five lakh, will be open for public on every Sunday from 8.30 am to 12.30 pm.

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Comments

santhosh s
 - 
Wednesday, 6 Apr 2016

Am doing butterfly project ( M.Sc project) in Karanji lake mysuru, if you provide an apportunity to do work on butterflies any where in Karnataka. Please its my humbnle request to you.

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News Network
February 28,2020

Suhaana shuddered with fear as she heard violent banging on her door on Sunday. The atmosphere was charged with communal tension after thousands of ruthless goons supporting contentious Citizens Amendment Act (CAA) launched a bloody onslaught against Muslims in the capital of India.

The family consists of Suhaana (name changed), her partially paralysed husband and two daughters. They are the only Muslim family in Madhuban mohalla of North Ghonda locality in north-east Delhi.

Hearts pounded louder than pounding of the door. Then the banging stopped and noises of men talking loudly came.

"I peeped out from a small window near the kitchen and saw our neighbours standing outside our entrance and arguing with 10-15 unknown people," Suhaana said.

It was the first day of the communal violence, worst in the decades, that fanned out to the entire north-east Delhi over the next three days and claimed at least 42 lives, left over 200 injured and properties worth crores destroyed. The death toll is feared to go up.

Later in the night Suhaana's family moved to one of their Hindu neighbour's house. There are about 30 Hindu households in the mohalla who kept vigil as the atmosphere deteriorated.

The next day, the violence escalated. The neighbours decided to shift Suhaana 's family to Gautampuri for their safety.

Suhaana recounted, "Our neighbours assured us that they are with us but as things were deteriorating, they said they wouldn't be able to protect us if a big mob of hundreds came. They advised us to move to the nearby Gautampuri locality and come back only after things become normal."

Rajkumar Bharadwaj brought the family to Gautampuri in the early hours on February 25.

Anil Gupta, 49, said, "It was tough to rescue them. We were asked by the rioters as to why we were saving the Muslims. But we had to, it is the people of my country who are suffering. It cannot be Hindus or Muslims."

Rajkumar Bharadwaj said, "Their youngest clung to me throughout. After I brought them here at Gautampuri, I felt good. Situation till then was not okay."

On Saturday, some semblance of normalcy returned to parts of north-east Delhi with some people opening their shops amid heavy police presence.

Meanwhile, the morbid sight outside GTB Hospital's mortuary, agonising groans in the hospital wards burnt down houses and shops remind Suhaana and others what they have been spared of.

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News Network
May 3,2020

Bengaluru, May 3: Five more COVID-19 cases have been reported from Karnataka, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the state to 606, the state government said on Sunday.

The total number of cases includes, 25 deaths and 282 discharged.

"Five new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Karnataka from 2nd May, 5 pm to 3rd May, 12 noon; taking the total number of positive cases to 606 which includes 25 deaths and 282 discharges," the government stated.

According to the statement, out of the five cases, three have been reported from Kalaburagi and two have been identified from Mudhol.

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News Network
January 11,2020

Mangaluru, Jan 11: CISF officials detained a passenger at Mangaluru International Airport here and seized from him currencies of foreign countries worth about Rs five lakh here on Saturday.

Official sources said that the passenger, identified as Shahul Hameed Theruvath, was supposed to take the Spice jet flight SG 059 for Dubai.

During the X BIS screening process, CISF officials noticed some suspicious image in Shahul’s hand baggage.

The thorough check of bag revealed foreign currencies of various countries worth Rs 5.48 lakh. The seized currencies were 76 US dollars of 100 denomination, Chinese Yuan, Malaysian Ringgits and Turkish Lira of smaller denomination. The currencies that were in his possession did not have any legal permission.

The personnel handed over the foreign currency recovered and the passenger to Customs officials for further inquiry.

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