For Tourists, Singapore Imports Caterpillars Every Two Weeks

Singapore has Changi Airport, which consistently wins awards as the world’s most beautiful and efficient airport. Not only that, to pamper arriving travellers and tourists, Changi Airport even imports chrysalises from selected farms. This was revealed in a recent BBC report highlighting various aspects behind the secrets of Changi’s frequent victories in airport surveys. Besides prioritising efficiency, Changi also greatly pampers every traveller who arrives or even just transits there. Travellers can enjoy tropical gardens, gyms, trampolines, and even swimming pools. Changi also features the world’s first butterfly garden inside an airport. This concept was created to provide a transit experience far removed from the usual airport atmosphere. In this garden, passengers can see more than 1,000 free-flying tropical butterflies, complete with a 6-metre artificial waterfall and an educational area on the metamorphosis process. Thus, it is not merely decoration, but a mini living ecosystem in the midst of the terminal. To fill the garden, Changi must import chrysalises every two to three weeks from specially selected farms to ensure a sustainable supply of butterflies. According to Changi’s official website, the garden also serves as a home for Singapore’s national butterfly, which is not widely known. The Common Rose butterfly, scientifically known as Pachliopta aristolochiae asteris, was designated as Singapore’s national butterfly by the Nature Society of Singapore in 2015. This butterfly has red spots and white lines on its wings, reminiscent of the five stars and crescent moon on Singapore’s flag.