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It is hard to
imagine a tropical forest in Otago. Think of a lush, hot and
steamy rainforest and somehow Dunedin is the most unlikely place
where you would expect to find one. Yet from Saturday 3 November
2007 you will be able to take your family to experience just
that.
The Otago Museum is bringing a lush, living, tropical forest to
its visitors, who will be able to see, face to face, some of
nature's most beautiful butterflies.
Hundreds of these enchanting creatures roam free
– some even stopping (on visitors) to say hello!
Because of its very nature, when you visit the
rainforest you will find yourself in a hot and
steamy environment. From above, below and even
right in the centre your family will be
encountering an amazing array of flora and
fauna.
The rainforest features around 1,000 imported
tropical |
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Pictures from left to right: Ornithoptera
priamus, Birdwing butterfly and Cethosia biblis,
Redlace Wing butterfly |
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butterflies, and is also home to live
tarantulas, turtles, finches and other
hot-weather-happy inhabitants.
A gardener's
paradise, the rainforest includes a wide variety
of lush tropical plants including orchids,
bromeliads, bananas, coffee, cardamom,
passionfruit and more!
Know as Discovery World Tropical Forest, you
will be in one of the only three-level, live
butterfly enclosures in Australasia. As you walk
around the |
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enclosure you
will be able to experience it from above, through the centre
(via an amazing glass swing bridge) and at the forest floor. Hot
(around 30 degrees C) and humid (around 80% humidity), the
Tropical Forest is guaranteed to be the hottest place in town,
even in the middle of an Otago winter!
Chief executive Shimrath Paul says, "Our team has worked very
hard over many years to make this dream a reality and make this
amazing experience available to our community."
Picture right:
Red-eared slider turtle |
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