The Victoria Butterfly Gardens is helping to take care of one of their longtime partners who was hit by an earthquake in Colombia.
Vanessa Wilches Restrepo, owner of Alas de Colombia, a sustainable butterfly farming operation in Colombia that raises butterflies for the Victoria Butterfly Gardens, lost her home in the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that devastated communities in the region on August 10th.
Her mother’s home was also lost in the disaster, and the two of them are currently staying on the farm while they begin rebuilding their lives.
Restrepo’s operation works with rural communities in her area to raise butterflies sustainably, providing both employment and an economic incentive to preserve the natural habitats that the butterflies depend on.
Alas de Colombia raises butterflies specifically for orders from Victoria Butterfly Gardens, including blue morphos, giant owls, red crackers, malachite, zebra mosaic and helicon varieties.
The process involves carefully nurturing the insects through their early life stages before shipping them as pupae to Vancouver Island. Once they arrive, visitors can see the adult butterflies emerge from the emergence window before being released into the tropical jungle of the Gardens.
The Gardens say their relationship with Restrepo began in 2019, after a member of the team met her at the International Association of Butterfly Exhibitors and Suppliers annual industry conference in Florida.
Their connection with Restrepo goes beyond a working relationship. The Gardens say a shared passion for butterflies, conservation and education ties the two parties together.
In honour of this relationship, Victoria Butterfly Gardens has pledged to donate 10% of admission revenue from now until September 30th to Restrepo and her family. Guests to the Gardens will also be able to make an additional donation if they choose.
“Victoria Butterfly Gardens is deeply saddened by the devastating earthquake in Colombia and the impact it has had on our friends and colleagues there,” said Ronalea Durrance, general manager at Victoria Butterfly Gardens.
“Our relationship has grown far beyond a business partnership, and Vanessa and her family have become valued members of our extended butterfly community. We want them to know that their friends, here in Victoria, stand with them as they begin the difficult process of rebuilding.”
Victoria Butterfly Gardens say the connection is a reminder that the butterflies seen on Vancouver Island are a part of a much bigger story.
“Every butterfly that arrives at our Gardens has been carefully raised and cared for by people thousands of kilometres away,” said Durance.
“Our visitors see the final, beautiful stage of that journey. We hope that by sharing Vanessa’s story, we can also introduce people to the individuals and communities whose work makes that experience possible.”
No additional cost is required from visitors, and the Gardens will be donating 10% of each admission price to Restrepo and her family.
Admission to the Victoria Butterfly Gardens can be purchased here, including daily admission and annual passes. Additional donations to Restrepo can be made on location.
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