Butterfly Kingdom - Conservatory

Purpose: To immerse guests in the habitat, world, and cultural importance of the butterfly through recreations of the environments in which they live.

Background: The conservation of species is best accomplished through habitat preservation. To be successful people must understand the relationship between habitat and the individual organism and the species. For international conservation people should also be familiar with the habitats and geography of the world in order to present compelling conservation arguments.

Immersion types of exhibits that are now commonly found in zoos and aquariums are excellent ways for guests to gain an appreciation and understanding of the habitats and countries in which other animals live. Butterfly conservatories by their very nature are immersion exhibits. However, most conservatories present a stylized, imaginary habitat. Recreations of actual habitats will add an additional educational element and opportunity to the exhibit.

Description: Conservatory:

The conservatory is divided into four habitat and geographical zones: Central American rainforest, Southeast Asian rainforest, African savannah, and Southwestern U.S. desert. Guests follow a one-way path through the conservatory leading them through the various regions and habitats. The path will have a number of pull-out areas throughout the conservatory to allow guests to move off the main path. The pull-out areas will have interactive graphics explaining the animals, habitats, and peoples from the region, ecology, behavior, plant/animal interactions, and conservation. The conservatory will be kept at a fairly constant temperature of around 80°F and 75% relative humidity. Guests will have a printed field guide to identify the butterfly species. Guests will also be able to tour the exhibit with a hand held audio system or PDA/handheld computer to gain additional information about the animals, plants, countries, facility, and the institution. Additionally, there will be at least two staff members at all times within the conservatory to assist guests, observe the exhibit, and answer questions. 2500 to 3000 butterflies of approximately 70 species will be in flight at any one time.

Habitat:

Guests will cross a small bridge over the waterfall pool into the Southwest U.S. desert. A change in vegetation along with hidden air ducts blowing drier air on to the visitor path will give guests the feeling of walking into the desert southwest. Flowering cacti, shrubs, and desert flowers will be present. There will be an emphasis on the beauty, diversity, and fragility of this type of habitat found in various forms around the world. Among the plants can be found Agaves with a sign discussing mescal and the worm, prickly pear cacti and the story of how the moth Cactoblastis cactorum saved the grasslands of Australia, and Yucca plants and their reliance on the Yucca moth and vice versa. Artificial rock formations with petroglyphs, native rock drawings, of insects, especially butterflies will be evident. A graphic depicting the Papago Indian belief of the creation of butterflies as “flying flowers” as well as other traditional Native American beliefs will show additional human/butterfly relationships. Guests will also be able to press a button to hear recordings of the Pima and Zuni tribes’ songs for the “Butterfly Dance.” Among the rocks will also be seen scorpions, tarantulas, darkling beetles, and cactus longhorn beetles, some hidden behind moveable cactus pads or rocks.

Guests exit the conservatory through a cave in a cliff face leading to the Insect Zoo. The cliff will be an eroded wall showing the various strata of rock laid down over time. Among the rocks of the different layers can be found fossils of dragonflies, beetles, trilobites, giant water scorpions, and even butterflies. This “fossil dig” will have each fossil identified with an identifying note card. A graphic will explain how long insects and other invertebrates have been around and emphasize the point that they disserve our attention, admiration, and appreciation, and what guests can do to help butterflies, insects, and the work of Butterfly Kingdom.

Animal Species: Various species of Butterflies
Cactus Longhorn Beetles
Tarantulas
Desert Darkling Beetles
Scorpions
Millipedes
Hummingbirds
Sunbirds
Honey Creepers

Next Exhibit




Southwest U.S. Desert Concept Purpose: To immerse guests in the habitat, world, and cultural importance of the butterfly through recreations of the environments in which they live. Background: The conservation of species is best accomplished through habitat preservation. To be successful people must understand the relationship between habitat and the individual organism and the species. For international conservation people should also be familiar with the habitats and geography of the world in order to present compelling conservation arguments. Immersion types of exhibits that are now commonly found in zoos and aquariums are excellent ways for guests to gain an appreciation and understanding of the habitats and countries in which other animals live. Butterfly conservatories by their very nature are immersion exhibits. However, most conservatories present a stylized, imaginary habitat. Recreations of actual habitats will add an additional educational element and opportunity to the exhibit. Description: Conservatory: The conservatory is divided into four habitat and geographical zones: Central American rainforest, Southeast Asian rainforest, African savannah, and Southwestern U.S. desert. Guests follow a one-way path through the conservatory leading them through the various regions and habitats. The path will have a number of pull-out areas throughout the conservatory to allow guests to move off the main path. The pull-out areas will have interactive graphics explaining the animals, habitats, and peoples from the region, ecology, behavior, plant/animal interactions, and conservation. The conservatory will be kept at a fairly constant temperature of around 80°F and 75% relative humidity. Guests will have a printed field guide to identify the butterfly species. Guests will also be able to tour the exhibit with a hand held audio system or PDA/handheld computer to gain additional information about the animals, plants, countries, facility, and the institution. Additionally, there will be at least two staff members at all times within the conservatory to assist guests, observe the exhibit, and answer questions. 2500 to 3000 butterflies of approximately 70 species will be in flight at any one time. Habitat: Guests will cross a small bridge over the waterfall pool into the Southwest U.S. desert. A change in vegetation along with hidden air ducts blowing drier air on to the visitor path will give guests the feeling of walking into the desert southwest. Flowering cacti, shrubs, and desert flowers will be present. There will be an emphasis on the beauty, diversity, and fragility of this type of habitat found in various forms around the world. Among the plants can be found Agaves with a sign discussing mescal and the worm, prickly pear cacti and the story of how the moth Cactoblastis cactorum saved the grasslands of Australia, and Yucca plants and their reliance on the Yucca moth and vice versa. Artificial rock formations with petroglyphs, native rock drawings, of insects, especially butterflies will be evident. A graphic depicting the Papago Indian belief of the creation of butterflies as “flying flowers” as well as other traditional Native American beliefs will show additional human/butterfly relationships. Guests will also be able to press a button to hear recordings of the Pima and Zuni tribes’ songs for the “Butterfly Dance.” Among the rocks will also be seen scorpions, tarantulas, darkling beetles, and cactus longhorn beetles, some hidden behind moveable cactus pads or rocks. Guests exit the conservatory through a cave in a cliff face leading to the Insect Zoo. The cliff will be an eroded wall showing the various strata of rock laid down over time. Among the rocks of the different layers can be found fossils of dragonflies, beetles, trilobites, giant water scorpions, and even butterflies. This “fossil dig” will have each fossil identified with an identifying note card. A graphic will explain how long insects and other invertebrates have been around and emphasize the point that they disserve our attention, admiration, and appreciation, and what guests can do to help butterflies, insects, and the work of Butterfly Kingdom. Animal Species: Various species of Butterflies Cactus Longhorn Beetles Tarantulas Desert Darkling Beetles Scorpions Millipedes Hummingbirds Sunbirds Honey Creepers Next Exhibit		Go back to the beginning Click here