Dingtugou Butterfly Village Introduction
Located at the intersection of Shuishang Township and Taibao City in Chiayi County, Tuguo Village consists of two communities: Ding Tuguo and Xiatuguo. It is a typical rural area experiencing population decline, with only elderly residents and children remaining in the community. The living environment has deteriorated over time, and there was once a proposal by the county government to establish a landfill here, which sparked strong protests from villagers and raised their environmental awareness. In recent years, the government has actively promoted community development, and with the awakening of local residents, the Ding Tuguo community began its community building efforts in 1998. The village focused on environmental restoration, improving drainage ditches, planting waxy candles to enhance the previously unsightly and foul-smelling drainage system, transforming it into a clear stream rich in ecological traces. Additionally, they planted cotton trees and marigolds to beautify the environment. This unexpectedly attracted the Formosan butterfly, as cotton trees, also known as butterfly trees, secrete sweet nectar that serves as food for butterflies. As a result, villagers decided to plant cotton trees extensively to revive the butterfly population. With media coverage, the village gained the charming title of "Butterfly Village." In 1999, the butterfly population peaked, leading to various events such as "Butterflies Come to My Home" and the "Sesame Festival," which sparked a trend of community observation. Over 200 communities came to visit, successfully boosting the name of Ding Tuguo Butterfly Village. However, in recent years, the butterflies have not been seen flying anymore due to parasitic wasps that have invaded and disrupted the butterfly ecosystem. These wasps lay their eggs inside the butterfly pupae, slowly consuming the caterpillars, resulting in bees hatching instead of butterflies. Although this is unfortunate, the image of the aging village has undergone a transformation, giving it a fresh rural atmosphere and achieving the goal of environmental beautification. In 2006, the community received sponsorship from Sinyi Realty Community and forest industry subsidies from the Forestry Bureau to create a green belt ecological education park spanning 1.8 kilometers along the Taiwan Sugar Corporation's railway between Ding Tuguo and Xiatuguo. It also connected the two communities with the "Butterfly Love Trail" and established the "Spirit Symbol of Leaping Butterflies," enhancing the community's multicultural, ecological, leisure, and educational functions, while aiming to provide the public with better recreational options for weekends.
