Each day, the archetypal North American butterfly edges closer to extinction. The migratory monarch butterfly can easily be identified by its easy-to-recognize black-and-orange colors, has officially been listed as endangered, and could quickly become extinct if no action is taken to halt climate change and restore its habitats.
The butterfly has been added to the IUCN Red List, with over 41,000 species facing extinction. Very few species in the world can evoke the wonder and awe that the monarch butterfly can command.
There are efforts to protect the species, but the challenge is far from enough to ensure the long-term survival of this species. These butterflies are beautiful pollinators, and they are the only butterfly species known to make a two-way migration, similar to how birds do. They return to their previous locations to breed during the summer and try to survive against all odds stacking higher each year.
