How can we let this happen? / myLot

United Kingdom

February 15, 2022 10:49am CST

At Christmas Little One was given a book all about the Monarch butterfly, describing the amazing life cycle of this incredible little creature and explaining how over a million butterflies migrate from the Eastern US to over-winter in the forests of Mexico. Even though we don’t have this species here, It is well-known around the world and an iconic insect. And yet even while books are being published depicting the astonishing natural spectacle of these clouds of insects, it’s all a lie - the population has fallen by 99.8%, from 1.2 million in the 1990s to 2,000 in 2020. Can you believe it? Of the approximately 1,200,000 recorded 30 years ago, 1,198,000 have disappeared and in the blink of an eye they could become extinct! When I was a child, we learned about the Dodo, and how ignorant sailors killed and ate the last of this species. The implication was that they were very stupid in those unenlightened days of the 17th century, but nowadays we are more knowledgeable and we wouldn’t let this kind of thing happen again. And yet here it is, happening with our full knowledge (yes I know it is happening to many other species too, but this is one of the best known), and what are we going to do about it? https://focusingonwildlife.com/news/petition-protect-monarch-butterflies/ All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2022.

9 people like this

6 responses

much2say

@much2say (55514)

• Los Angeles, California

15 Feb 22

We know about milkweed being good for the Monarch population, so we wanted to plant milkweeds. Not too long ago, I read that the common milkweeds being planted everywhere here and being sold by the nurseries are NOT the kind of milkweed that's right for them - that it would affect migration etc etc. Ugh. We know so much and don't know a whole lot - both at the same time

5 people like this

DianneN

@DianneN (247186)

• United States

15 Feb 22

We have Monarchs in our yard all summer. It would be horrible if they became extinct. I will read your article when I get a chance.

3 people like this

rebelann1949

@rebelann (112770)

• El Paso, Texas

22 Mar 22

Sadly yes, I do believe it. It's due to so many ignorant people using insecticides and herbisides without considering the damage that stuff does to wild habitat and their ecosystems. If only people weren't so narcissistic, humans aren't the only inhabitants of this planet.