The migratory monarch butterflies have recently been listed as an endangered species in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
About the Monarch Butterfly
The migratory monarch butterfly is a sub-species of Danaus plexippus that can travel up to 4,000 kilometers across America. This notably vibrant species often serves crucial roles in ecosystems as principal pollinators, maintaining the global food web, among several other ecosystem services. Furthermore, smaller populations of these butterflies are prevalent in regions like Australia, Hawaii, and India.
Issues and Declines in Population
Over the past ten years, the monarch butterfly’s population in America has experienced a decline of 23-72%. The eastern monarchs, which migrate from the eastern United States and Canada and constitute the larger group, saw their numbers reduce by 84% between 1996 to 2014.
Monarch butterflies are known for their distinctive lifestyle as they exclusively breed on one particular plant: The Milkweeds. Alarmingly, farmers’ removal of this plant, in combination with the extensive use of weed killers to eradicate milkweeds, has significantly contributed to the decrease in their population.
Moreover, the destruction of their habitats due to legal and illegal logging and deforestation, which pave the way for agriculture and urban development, is equally to blame. Furthermore, increasingly frequent and intense storms and droughts disrupt flowering cycles, resulting in the deaths of millions of butterflies.
An Overview of IUCN
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a leading environmental organization that focuses extensively on biodiversity conservation. Besides participating in and supporting environmental scientific research, IUCN also aids the implementation of national conservation legislation, policies, and practices. Furthermore, it operates or manages thousands of field projects worldwide and boasts a membership comprising over 1,000 governmental and non-governmental organizations from more than 140 countries.
One of the most significant initiatives by IUCN is the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, a comprehensive appraisal of the current extinction risk faced by thousands of plant and animal species. The IUCN Red List comprises nine categories that range from NE (Not Evaluated) to EX (Extinct), with Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN), and Vulnerable (VU) species considered threatened with extinction.
The IUCN’s Role in Global Conservation Efforts
The IUCN has been granted observer status at the United Nations General Assembly, highlighting its significant role in global conservation efforts. Furthermore, the IUCN Red List serves as a critical indicator of the world’s biodiversity health.
Endangered Species: A Previous Year Question in UPSC Civil Services Examination
In the 2012 Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination, a question was posed about endangered species. It was as follows: “Which one of the following groups of animals belongs to the category of endangered species? (a) Great Indian Bustard, Musk Deer, Red Panda and Asiatic Wild Ass (b) Kashmir Stag, Cheetal, Blue Bull, and Great Indian Bustard (c) Snow Leopard, Swamp Deer, Rhesus Monkey and Saras (Crane) (d) Lion-tailed Macaque, Blue Bull, Hanuman Langur and Cheetal.” The correct answer for the 2012 data was option (a).
