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The migratory monarch butterfly is officially one endangered species.
The subspecies of monarch butterfly Known for its seasonal migration across North America – it was declared endangered on Thursday by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The IUCN has listed the species on its Red List of Threatened Species, which currently includes 147,517 species.
MONARCH BUTTERFLIES ARE OFFICIALLY ON THE ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST.
The IUCN states that the monarch butterfly is threatened by habitat loss and climate change.
A monarch butterfly rests on a flower on Monday, September. 17, 2018, Urbandale, Iowa.
(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
“Today’s Red List update highlights the fragility of nature’s wonders, such as the unique spectacle of monarch butterflies migrating over thousands of kilometres,” said IUCN Director General Dr Bruno Oberle.
According to National Geographic, the endangered migratory monarch butterfly travels 2,500 miles between summer and winter grounds twice a year.
CALIFORNIA CONDORS WHICH HAPPEN IN FIRST REDWOOD NATIONAL AND STATE PARKS SINCE 1892
But the species’ population has declined by between 22% and 72% over the past decade.
Deforestation for agriculture and urban development has destroyed key winter refuges in Mexico and California.
Monarch butterflies perch on a rock at the Sierra Chincua Butterfly Sanctuary near Angangueo in the Mexican state of Michoacán on Friday. 16, 2015.
(Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Pesticides and herbicides used in agriculture kill milkweed, where monarch butterfly larvae feed.
Drought caused by climate change is also limiting milkweed growth, while extreme temperatures are causing butterflies to migrate early.
BURMA PYTHON WEIGHING OVER 200 LBS. CAPTURED IN NAPLES, FLORIDA
Overall, the harsh weather has killed millions of butterflies, the IUCN says.
The IUCN also said that the western population of migratory monarch butterflies is at greatest risk of extinction, having declined by about 99.9% since the 1980s.
Monarch butterflies fly near Oyamel trees at the Sierra Chincua Butterfly Sanctuary near Anguéo in the Mexican state of Michoacán on Friday. 16, 2015.
(Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
There has also been a significant decline in the eastern population of the species, which declined by 84% between 1996 and 2014.
Monarch butterfly assessment leader Anna Walker said in a statement that while it is difficult to watch monarch butterflies “tumbling to the brink of collapse”, there is still room for recovery.
“Many people and organizations have come together to protect this butterfly and its habitats,” he said.
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“From planting native milkweed and reducing pesticide use to supporting wintering site conservation and contributing to community science, we all have a role to play in ensuring the full recovery of this iconic insect.”
