The Monarch Butterfly. Beautiful, delicate, and now.... endangered in Canada.
Each year, in Mexico, a Monarch survey takes place. In '96/'97, the numbers of butterflies covered over 18 hectares of space. Over the following years, that number began to fall. Between '94 and '04, it was 7.81 hectares. And then, only a mere 4.32 hectares of colonies appeared in Mexico between '05 and '12.
The most current census is the most disturbing: only a mere 1.19 hectares of butterflies was surveyed.
It's a sign of what's to come. Climate change, habitat loss, pollution, overuse of herbicides, each of these is another nail in the Monarch butterflies' migratory coffin. It's a warning. The more we destroy the environment, the more species and creatures will be effected.
Here, in Canada, less and less of these gorgeous insects are spotted each year. That number has been alarming scientists and biologists. More and more Monarchs simply don't survive the massive trip between Mexico and Canada.
The first problem facing the Monarch is the Milkweed Plant. We humans view this plant as a weed, something undesirable, and invasive. We rip it out of the ground, use poisonous herbicides to kill it. It's not as pretty as a rose, or a lily, thus, it's an eyesore to gardeners everywhere.
The Monarch views the Milkweed as it's lifeline. It needs this plant. It's life cycle is tied to this plant - eggs, caterpillars and pupae - only the Milkweed will do. But it's a more delicate plant than it seems. Drought, excessive heat, they can kill the Milkweed, and any Monarch eggs, caterpillars and pupae that are living on it, further decimating Monarch numbers.
The conservation of the Monarch falls to the three countries that this incredible insect is tied to : Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Mexico is ahead of it's compatriots - it's already begun work to save the Monarch with protected sanctuaries, and is working to eliminate large-scale deforestation.
And, the best protection of all is Ecotourism. Money is still what makes the world go 'round, and luckily, there is no shortage of people who share the love of butterflies. In Mexico, hundreds travel there to visit the Monarch's massive colonies. (But this too, needs balance. Too much disturbance, too many people crowding this delicate insect, and biologists are afraid that more and more numbers may vanish.)
While the Monarch won't go extinct - it's widespread distribution that includes Mexico, the South Pacific, and even Australia hopefully will ensure that - it's entirely possible that it may vanish from North America.
I, for one, find that possibility worrisome and downright horrifying.
Photography Features
Art Features
