There was a time when the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly was free to fly wherever he wanted, from the Northern California up to British Columbia. Unfortunately, things have changed as the natural habitat of this species was destroyed, along with the early blue violet plant they used for breeding.
- Silverspot Butterfly is one of the U.S. endangered species.
- The Oregon zoo researchers are doing their best as want to help this species.
- Every summer they are releasing the butterflies that will find a mate and lay eggs before they die.
The researchers from the Oregon Zoo, Portland decided it was time for a change. Having that in mind, they released about 450 silverspots on Mount Hebo. According to the zoo officials, the event was a success.Karen Lewis, a zoo conservation associate said that it had been the perfect time of the year to be out there as it was the middle of the flight season. It was an amazing image to watch. Silverspots were flying all around, enjoying their freedom.
The officials from the zoo have planned that for some time. They have made trips along the coast to find the perfect place in order to release the butterflies. Moreover, they took butterfly pupae and salt-spray meadows. The Silverstop Butterfly can’t enjoy its freedom for a long time because the average lifespan is about two weeks. It will need to find a mate and suitable violets to lay eggs before they die.
The Oregon Zoo was the main help for the Silverspot Butterfly. They managed to succeed in their recovery efforts after years of researching and conservating. Every year, they collect fame butterflies and bring them back to the zoo so they can lay eggs in a lab. This is the only chance for the Silverstop Butterfly species to live. If you did not know, the Oregon silverspot is one of the U.S. Endangered Species despite zoo’s efforts to keep them safe.
The eggs are kept at the zoo during winter time. After they grow, they are released back into the coastal meadows during summer. Oregon Zoo’s goal is to help each population grow large enough so that it can sustain without help. We are hoping their program will keep on going and that the Silverspot Butterfly will fly away without any problem.
Image source: Public domain image
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.