KL Butterfly Park

The Butterfly Park opened in 1993 in a corner of the Lake Gardens and is a walk-through enclosure of about eight thousand square metres, netted over and planted as a rainforest garden with the host and nectar plants the insects need, holding several thousand butterflies of somewhere over a hundred Malaysian species at any time - swallowtails, birdwings including the Rajah Brooke's with its green-toothed forewings, lacewings and tree nymphs. Because the whole thing is planted rather than displayed, the butterflies move freely and land on people, which is the appeal for children. There is a breeding area where pupae are visible, a small insect museum with mounted specimens and live arthropods, ponds with koi and turtles, and a shop. Early morning, when the sun first warms the enclosure, is when they fly.

What you actually see

• A walk-through netted garden - planted with host and nectar species.
• Rajah Brooke's birdwing - among the hundred-plus Malaysian species inside.
• A breeding area - pupae and emergence visible behind glass.
• An insect museum - mounted specimens and live arthropods alongside.

When to go

All year; mid-morning on a sunny day is most active. An hour or two.

Honest expectations

On cool or wet days the butterflies stay put and the visit is disappointing. It is small for the price. The insect museum includes preserved specimens, which some visitors dislike.

Nearby

The Bird Park, Orchid Garden and Perdana Botanical Gardens are all adjacent.