After exploring the Penang Botanical Gardens and Penang National Park, we continued our journey to Entopia, the Butterfly Park. We admired the beauty of various butterflies, and learned more about the lesser-known behaviours of butterflies and other insects. It inspired us to utilize ecological experiences and engaging educational resources to bridge the gap between the public and the insects.
Sharing by Roy Cheung (Senior Project and Conservation Officer)
As we arrived at the spacious outdoor ecological zone, various tropical butterflies could be seen. Reaching out our hands, some butterflies even rested on our hands, and used their mouthparts to feed on the sweat on our skin! We even spotted the national butterfly of Malaysia, Trogonoptera brookiana. It was a marvel to me how exquisite it was. After such a visual feast, we thought our journey had come to an end. But guess what? Exciting contents were awaiting us in the indoor exhibition hall! There was a "real estate shop" promoting various insect habitats, and a "toy store" showcasing the defence mechanisms of insects.
Immersing ourselves in the world of insects, our initial one-hour visit was turned into an engaging journey, lasting for over three hours. Having amazing encounters with different butterflies as we strolled along Entopia, as well as the quirky exhibition, we believed that it could eradicate the general public's fear of insects. Advocating for outdoor and game-based education, we, as environmental educators, may find inspiration and resonance in this experience.