Thousands of glimmering butterflies will fly free among colorful plants of succulent nectar at the opening of the Butterfly Jungle in the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
Butterfly keepers, horticulturists and construction teams have their hands full with work preparing the Hidden Jungle aviary for this special exhibit, said San Diego Zoo officials. They’ve cultivated plants that will provide nectar for the majestic winged insects.
Shipments of butterfly pupae — the stage between the larva and adult before the cocoon is formed — have arrived daily for the annual butterfly bonanza. Guests will have an opportunity to learn about and support conservation while immersing themselves in a rain forest aviary filled with a rainbow of fluttering butterflies, said Zoo officials.
The Butterfly Jungle will run for six weeks, from Mar. 11 to Apr. 23, between 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The event helps support the conservation of sustainable habitats for butterflies, as farmers contribute to the butterfly population by raising pupae for zoological exhibits worldwide.
“When butterfly pupae shipments arrive at the Safari Park, animal care staff carefully unpack the pupae, sort and count them, before gently placing each one’s silk attachment into a butterfly hatching box,” said San Diego Zoo officials, in a statement.
“The Park’s horticulture staff replaces 200 to 300 plants of a dozen varieties each week during the event, to make sure the flowers are fresh and full of nectar for the butterflies,” continued the statement.
“Once the butterflies emerge from their chrysalides, they are released into the Hidden Jungle,” said the statement.
During this year’s Butterfly Jungle, between 20 to 30 butterfly species will be highlighted from Central, South and North America, said Zoo officials. That includes eye-catching butterflies like the zebra longwing, orange-barred tiger, Grecian shoemaker, giant swallowtail and blue morpho.
Besides the butterflies, the exhibit will include 11 exotic bird species such as the endangered Bali myna and Mariana fruit dove.
