By To-Wen Tseng

Penang Bird Park and Penang Butterfly Farm in Malaysia are the musts for all nature lovers. Penang Bird Park is the first and the largest bird park of its kind in Malaysia. Established in 1988, the 5-acre park on the mainland portion of Penang State has a collection of more than 300 species of birds from all over the world, of which more than 150 species are of Malaysian species.

Since its establishment, the park has been patiently collecting different species of birds. The bird park is now well praised for its excellent collection Malaysian bird species.

Malaysian birds are a joy to behold because of the rainbow coloration of their feathers. However, it is almost impossible to watch all the Malaysian birds in their natural habitats because the birds are ranging from the coastal mangrove swamps to the high attitude of the dense tropical forest. Penang Bird Park offers a comfortable environment where people can observe all of the birds.

More than 3,000 birds in the park are carefully and scientifically housed in more than 150 cages for the breeding and conservation purposes. Meanwhile, the Geodesic Domes and 2 giant sized Walk-in-Aviaries keep hundreds of tamed birds, offering priceless memory and exciting moment for visitors who hand-feed the birds. More than 100 species of these Malaysian birds are breeding readily in captivity at the bird park.

The park has some of the most beautiful and unique Malaysian bird species. Exotic birds ranging from tiny Sunbirds to huge, gigantic 8-foot tall Ostriches frolic in an environment that imitates their natural habitat. The Flycatchers, Minuets, Kingfishers, Fairy Bluebirds, Pheasants, Partridges, and the tiny Flower Peckers are some of the most beautiful birds in the park, they are so colorful that they are beyond the description of words. The Bird Park is particularly proud of its hornbills, sunbirds, and pheasants collection.

Penang Bird Park is also very active in the conservation of endangered birds species.

Minutes away from the Penang Bird Park, Penang Butterfly Farm is constructed like a miniature rainforest in the middle of the city of Kuala Lumpur. It houses more than 120 different species of butterflies, and more than 15,000 plants of a wide varieties.

Founded in 1986 for public education purposes and as a research center, which develops new breeding methods, the farm is ideal for families with young children to visit.

Upon entering the farm you will be greeted by a lush, tropical garden. Walking down the pathway through the garden, you will see fountains, fishponds, and a large number of butterflies fluttering among the trees and the colorful flowers. Adding to the tropical rainforest atmosphere of the farm is a mini pond with a limestone path down the center. A gazebo surrounds the pond, letting the visitors have a clear view of the area and observe the various species of butterflies fluttering by.

The calm and serene butterfly enclosure is a perfect getaway from the turmoil of the world. Not a fan of butterflies? The 1,200-square-foot dragonfly enclosure keeps thousands of exotic looking insects making energetic whizzing sounds and flying randomly. The farm also has a number of crawlies such as scorpions, spiders and snakes.

The traditional art center, the visitor’s center, and the souvenir shop are the musts. Educational pamphlets that definitely intrigues nature buffs are available in the visiter’s center. Beautiful crystal paperweights made by insects’ specimen are sold in the souvenir shop. Another interesting fact is that Malaysia’s largest oil painting by James Lau, which depicts a lush jungle and has earned a place on the Guinness Book of records, is displayed in the souvenir shop.

The Penang Butterfly Farm is also dedicated to pest research; recently it has discovered a practical “solution” to the Dengue problem by getting dragonfly nymphs to eat mosquito larvae.