Project Name: Penang Butterfly Farm
Location: Teluk Bahang, Penang, Malaysia.

The Penang Butterfly Farm was established in 1986 by Mr David Goh in Penang, Malaysia, after being inspired and encouraged by Mr. Clive Farrell, owner of the Stratford Butterfly Farm at Stratford-on-Avon (birth-place of William Shakespeare) in England, to start a tropical butterfly farm in Malaysia. The Penang Butterfly Farm is the first tropical butterfly farm ever set up in the tropical world and is located in Teluk Bahang, which is at the end of the tourist hotel strip at Batu Ferringhi and is about 17km from George Town. The farm stands on a 0.8 hector site and maintains an average flying population of 4000 Malaysian butterflies of 120 different species, including the rare Indian Leaf (Kallima paralekta) and the endangered Yellow Birdwing (Troides helena). Probably the most famous of Malaysian butterflies that can be seen is the Rajah Brooke's Birdwing of the Papilionidae family.

Visitors often find themselves surrounded by a myriad of fluttering butterflies within a seemingly natural setting, and imagining themselves in an enchanted wilderness, bejeweled with colourful gems of creation. The best encounter at the Penang Butterfly Farm is undoubtedly the free flying papilions in the enormous enclosure. The exhibition of selected insects and reptiles are also crowd drawers. The visitors, having traversed this complex of displays and an insect museum, walk through time in an art and artefact gallery which displays a huge range of genuine ancient relics and cultural antiquities. For the nostalgic and collectors, a souvenir shop awakes the visitors, selling butterfly-related paraphernalia.

In Penang, the farm is now a household name and a "must-see" for visitors. It has become one of the most popular stops on Penang's round island tour and is voted as one of the Top 10 Tourist Attractions In Penang by Guang Ming Daily in 2008. Today, other than being a famous tourist destination, it also serves as a centre for recreation, education and scientific research. Local institutions, schools and kindergartens have been eagerly bringing students and children to visit the farm and participate in its educational programmes and nature appreciation, conservation and awareness activities. The success of the Penang Butterfly Farm has even inspired a series of similar commercial operations locally and in neighbouring countries.

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