State's first butterfly park opens in Belvai

August 18, 2013
butterfly_1
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.

butterfly_2
butterfly_3
butterfly_4
butterfly_5
butterfly_6
butterfly_7
butterfly_8

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.

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
August 7,2020

Bengaluru, Aug 7: Amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Karnataka, the state's health department issued fresh guidelines for the disposal of bodies of COVID patients.

"Although an increased risk of COVID infection from a dead body to health workers or family members who follow standard precautions while handling the body is unlikely, the lack of scientific data requires the utmost care to avoid the inadvertent spread of COVID-19 during these times," the statement from the health department's press release read, emphasising on the dignity of the dead and the religious and cultural tradition.

The 23-page press release elaborated on guidelines regarding testing, handling of dead bodies and other specificities in relation to the management of COVID-19 bodies.

"Testing should not be insisted in every case of death, but only when they have a recorded history of influenza-like symptoms. The body should be handed over to the family members/ relatives in a dignified manner immediately after swab collection and hospitals should provide handouts with a list of dos and don'ts in English and Kannada laying down relevant information," the statement said.

It added, "At the mortuary, health care workers, mortuary staff and the family of the deceased body shall not come in direct contact with the dead body and must wear full personal protective equipment (PPE). If the family or relative are for any reason unable to cremate or bury the body, the local health authority shall arrange for the dignified last rites as per the religious traditions of the family."

Regarding autopsies (post mortem) on COVID-19 bodies, the state department said that they should be avoided, except in necessary circumstances.

The statement also gave detailed guidelines regarding the appropriate recording of COVID-19 deaths in line with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines.

Additionally, the health department made a statement about the admission procedure for COVID positive patients referred by other district administrations saying, "It is now mandatory for all the referrals from the BBMP admission and discharge of COVID positive patients to be done through the online COVID Hospital Bed Management System (CHBMS)."

The state's count of coronavirus cases was 1,51,449 in the past 24 hours.

So far, a total of 2,804 people have died due to COVID-19 in the state, while the average recovery rate in Karnataka is 49.3 per cent.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
April 3,2020

Mangaluru, Apr 3: The laboratory at District Wenlock Hospital has initiated trial for Covid 19 testing, close on the heels of receiving permission from state government.

Doctors, elected representatives and stakeholders had repeatedly demanded that a laboratory should be set up in the port city. Without the lab, the samples were sent either to Shivamogga or to Bengaluru for testing. When Heath Minister Sriramulu had visited Mangaluru on March 17, he had promised a lab in the city for testing of the samples.

Accordingly, the government gave permission for starting the laboratory at Wenlock Hospital. The process of registering the lab with Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) will be completed shortly. The laboratory will be fully operational only after it is registered.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
April 25,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 25: Former Karnataka Health minister and senior Congress leader Dr H C Mahadevappa on Saturday urged the state government to chalk out a comprehensive plan to conduct tests among the vulnerable sections in the society to impede the spread of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

Speaking to media persons, Dr Mahadevappa, felt that only restricting people to remain indoors will not suffice to tackle the spread of the contagious disease he said that "There needs to step up testing the people especially belonging to the vulnerable sections of the society".

Maintaining that the COVID-19 disease, which has progressed itself as a pandemic, across the globe, former Health Minister said that "there is also a need to fight the menace with multiple dimension, as it has potential to cause damage not only the social life of the people but also their livelihood".

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.