Butterfly Exhibits Around the World

1. Kipepeo Butterfly Project, Kenya

Kipepeo is Swahili for butterfly, and this butterfly exhibit is more than a tourist attraction. The Kipepeo Butterfly Project is a community enterprise in coastal Kenya that gives the people an incentive to conserve butterfly habitat. Kipepeo helps local farmers sell silk products, honey, and other nature-based products. Butterfly and moth pupae are sold to butterfly exhibits and zoos around the world. The butterfly house exhibits species from the Arabuko Sokoke forest in Kenya.

2. Penang Butterfly Farm, Malaysia

One of the first butterfly exhibitions, the Penang Butterfly Farm exhibits 120 species of Malaysian butterflies, including rare species. As many as 4,000 butterflies fly freely throughout the 2 acre site. The Penang Butterfly Farm also has an extensive breeding program aimed at conserving rare butterflies of the Penang peninsula.

3. Coffs Harbour Butterfly House, Australia

The Coffs Butterfly House is an enclosed glasshouse that exhibits Australian species year-round. It first opened in 1995, and displays about 400 butterflies of up to 17 species. Guides will give you a tour, help you identify species you observe, and teach you about their life cycles.

4. Butterfly Farm L’Abruzzo, Italy

With over 1,000 square meters of tropical garden, the Butterfly Farm L’Abruzzo is home to both butterflies and birds. The butterflies exhibited are from Africa, America, Australia, and of course, Italy.

5. The Butterfly Farm, Caribbean

Vacationing in the Caribbean? There’s a good chance you can visit The Butterfly Farm, with exhibits on four islands – St. Martin, Aruba, Grand Cayman, and St.Thomas. The butterfly houses are mesh enclosed, and your visit begins with a guided tour. The admission ticket is good for the length of your stay on the island, so you can observe and photograph butterflies as often as you want.

You can see photos of my visit to the Butterfly Farm in Aruba in the photo gallery!

6. Wings Over the Tropics, Colorado

This enclosed tropical rainforest exhibits 1,200 butterflies from rainforests around the globe. The tropical conservatory is also home to 350 plants species, and a few vertebrates – turtles, frogs, finches, and fish. Wings Over the Tropics also has outdoor gardens, where you can observe local Colorado butterflies during the warm months.

7. Butterfly World, Florida

One of the best known butterfly exhibits in the United States, Butterfly World was created by a retired electrical engineer with a passion for butterflies. You can view researchers at work in the butterfly lab, where over 1 million butterflies have been raised. There are also outdoor gardens, and a gift shop where you can purchase pupaes to raise.