O migratory monarch butterfly (Danaus plexipus plexippus), known for her trips from the United States and Canada to hatcheries in Mexico, has just been incorporated into the Red List of Threatened Species in the “endangered” category.
both the human activity and climate change have significantly impacted the migratory monarch butterfly and constitute a fast-growing threat to this and other insects. Drought limits and slows the growth of milkweed, where they feed, and increases the frequency of catastrophic wildfires, with extreme temperatures triggering earlier migrations and killing millions of butterflies.
The new list, created by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), also warns that all migratory sturgeons in the northern hemisphere are threatened by hunting and their predators. Currently, the red list includes 147,517 species, of which 41,459 are endangered.
“The red list update highlights the fragility of nature’s wonders, such as the unique spectacle of monarch butterflies migrating thousands of kilometers,” he said. Bruno OberleDirector General of the IUCN.
The alarming situation of butterflies and sturgeons
The population of migratory monarch butterflies has been reduced by between 22 and 72% in the last decade, warns the IUCN. “From planting native milkweed and reducing pesticide use to supporting winter site protection and contributing to community science, we all have a role to play in ensuring this iconic insect makes a full recovery.” Anna Walkermember of the IUCN-SSC Butterfly and Moth Specialist Group.
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At the same time, the IUCN assessment reveals that it was not possible to stop the sturgeon decline: All 26 species that exist in the world are in danger of extinction, compared to 85% in 2009.
The Yangtze Sturgeon (acipenser dabryanus) was changed from “critically endangered” to “extinct in the wild” and another 17 species have become “critically endangered”, three are “endangered” and five are “vulnerable”. The extinction of the Chinese paddlefish (Psephurus gladius).
These animals have been exploited for their meat and caviar for centuries. Despite being protected by international law, “stronger enforcement of regulations on the illegal sale of sturgeon meat and caviar” is needed, says the IUCN. the restoration of freshwater ecosystems and the construction of effective fish passages, along with storage, are key measures to support the long-term survival of these fish.
The tiger’s recovery
On the other side of the coin we find the tiger (panthera tigris), of which more specimens have been found than thought to exist in the world. Specifically, there are between 3,726 and 5,578 tigers in the wild, representing a 40% increase since 2015.
It is estimated that there are between 3,726 and 5,578 tigers in the wild, 40% more than in 2015. /Pixabay
The increase is explained by the improvement in tracking these cats, which made it possible to locate more specimens. To this must be added the good performance of conservation projects, according to the IUCN, which invites us to be optimistic about their recovery.
Like sturgeons, this species is a victim of poaching, as well as their prey, which influences their feeding. Likewise, they are also affected by the fragmentation and destruction of their habitat due to pressure from agriculture and urban development.
“To preserve nature’s rich diversity, we need effectively and justly governed protected and conserved areas, along with decisive action to respond to climate change and restore ecosystems,” concludes Bruno Oberle.