BUTTERFLY & REPTILE SANCTUARY
Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary is a tourist attraction in Ayer Keroh, about 15km northeast of Malacca town. Also known as Taman Rama Rama, it is home to a collection of animals ranging from beautiful butterflies to snakes, lizards, crocodiles, koi fish and even a pair of gorgeous golden leopards.
Spread across an 11ha jungle area, the complex is part secondary jungle and part landscaped park. The well-maintained sanctuary was opened in 1991 and is divided into five sections: the Koi River Valley, Butterfly Garden, Reptile Aviary, Wild Photo Lane and Nature’s Art Centre.
First up is the walk-through Butterfly Garden, the Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary’s premier attraction. It is a place where hundreds of butterflies, simply bursting with colours, fly freely.
The garden has more than 20 different species of butterflies, including the Black and White Helen, Malayan Birdwing, and the Rajah Brooke’s Birdwing (Malaysia’s National Butterfly, named after Sir James Brooke, the ‘Raja’ (King) of Sarawak).
The Koi River Valley is undoubtedly the most serene section of the park. Here hundreds of colourful carp swim around in the beautifully landscaped ponds, complete with miniature waterfalls and surrounded by tropical plants. Check out the 250m-long canopy walk: the sights here make for great souvenir photos.
Opened in October 2008, Wild Photo Lane is another great place for souvenir photos with the animals of Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary: here you can take up-close-and-personal shots with the Burmese python, red-tailed boa, giant green iguana and more.
Also be sure to visit the Reptile Aviary where snakes such as boas, pythons, vipers and cobras can be found at the Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary. Check out the giant Burmese python and the 20ft reticulated python; non-snake lovers had better watch out for the long-nose whip snakes (with their slender twig-like bodies and green scales) camouflaged in the leaves of trees in this aviary.
Just past the lizards exhibit you can see a small closed-off section of the park where crocodiles live: they look pretty lazy and it seems like the only movements you see are when they move their heads. Also in this section is a cage with a pair of golden leopards. They are a gorgeous duo and feeding time is obviously a sight to see.
Ayer Keroh is filled with tourist attractions, including the Taman Mini Malaysia & ASEAN, Melaka Zoo and more; however the Butterfly and Reptile Sanctuary remains one of its most popular attractions. The complex is set opposite Melaka Zoo, the second largest zoo in the country, and nearby the Ayer Keroh Recreational Forest.
The park also has a forestry museum and paved jungle trails and a picnic area. Reptiles are placed within cages to ensure visitors’ safety. From Malacca town, you can get to Ayer Keroh either by bus or taxi.
