PRESS RELEASE
DATE: 29
November 2013
VICTORIA
BUTTERFLY GARDENS REOPENS 07 DECEMBER AFTER FACILITY UPGRADE
After a 9 week ‘metamorphosis’ Victoria Butterfly Gardens is
now ready to emerge from their pupae and show off their new wings, or in this
case their new roof and redesign. December 7, 2013 is the grand reopening of
Victoria Butterfly Gardens.
The facility is a 12,000 square foot glass house, although now
the new roof has been made from a polycarbonate material, which weighs very
little in comparison to glass. Its insulation properties are up to ten times
better than the glass roof that was there before, plus it provides a much safer
environment in the event of an earthquake.
David Roberts, General Manager said “It was the right time.
The building has been in existence for over 20 years and as technology changes
we wanted to take advantage of these factors to lower our carbon
footprint.” Because the Gardens are
tropical and host a variety of tropical plant life, birds and other creatures
the temperature is maintained at a balmy 25 degrees Celsius. The energy savings are expected to be
considerable with this new roof.
“We have been getting so many questions about every aspect
of the construction, relating to the animals, butterflies and plants. Pupae are
onsite and will have emerged into butterflies by the time we open 07 December.
Our friends in the industry have helped keep our animals
safe and healthy during the closure. Some have stayed in temporary housing on
site and others have been housed at approved homes of site. The safety and
wellbeing of their animals is of paramount importance. They are part of our
family. Most of the animals at Butterfly Gardens have come from private homes
where owners have not been able to look after them any longer, and some have
been rescued from places where they were not receiving the care they need.”
Other improvements have been to the look and feel of the
admissions and gift shop area, which are now more user friendly and inviting to
guests. The average guest will not notice the change in the roof but many of
the pillars have been removed for better sight lines and visitors will
definitely notice some of the new tropical birds that have just arrived.
All in all, “the Jungle”, as the staff like to refer to it,
is ready to give you a dose of the tropics. So as the weather outside gets
colder, wetter and gray….a trip to Butterfly Gardens is like a trip to a
tropical paradise.
Christmas lights are on in the jungle from 10am daily with
last admission at 5pm from December 7-31 (closed Christmas day).
Contact: David Roberts, General Manager. Victoria Butterfly
Gardens. (250)508-0075, email: david@butterflygardens.com
