Our seasonal exhibition, "A Walk with Butterflies," offers a unique opportunity for visitors in Croatia to experience the magic of tropical butterflies, bred on sustainable farms around the world. A special attraction of the exhibition is the magnificent owl butterfly (Caligo memnon), the largest butterfly species in the Western Hemisphere, with a wingspan reaching an impressive 20 cm. By comparison, the average European butterfly has a wingspan of 3-5 cm, making Caligo memnon four times larger.

Caligo memnon originates from the tropical forests of Mexico, Central, and South America, and our specimens come from environmentally conscious plantations in distant Costa Rica. According to the latest estimates by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), this species is considered not threatened with a stable population. The lifespan of an adult butterfly can be longer than two months.

The "A Walk with Butterflies" exhibition offers visitors the chance to see beautiful tropical butterflies in various stages of their life cycle, from chrysalis to stunning butterfly. The chrysalises arrived a few days ago, and some butterflies have already emerged from them, as seen in the accompanying video.

Through the exhibition, we aim to highlight the importance of butterfly conservation and their significance to the ecosystem. Butterflies are extraordinary bioindicators due to their sensitivity to environmental changes. Unfortunately, in our regions, one-third of butterflies are threatened due to excessive use of pesticides and herbicides, habitat loss, and climate change. With this exhibition, we strive to raise awareness of these issues and encourage visitors to preserve nature.