The monarch butterfly, universally loved and a North American icon, is now on the endangered species list.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said in a press release that the butterfly is on the verge of decline due to rising temperatures and the destruction of the insect’s natural habitat.
A report shows that the monarch butterfly population has declined by nearly 70% in the last 10 years.
“A specific set of populations in the western United States has declined by about 99.9%,” the IUCN said.
Dr. Sean T. O’Brien, president and CEO of The Nature Service, explained that much more needs to be done to protect the species.
With the discovery of more holes in the ozone layer, other butterflies and animals have also become victims of climate change.
