What kind of endangered butterflies were released into the wild by the Oregon Zoo?
OREGON ZOO IS SITUATED IN POLAND THESE BUTTERFLIES ARE ENDANGERED SPECIES SO THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL PROTECTION ALSO THIS IS A VERY RARE BUTERFLIE AFTER MONTHS UNDER LAMPLIGHT, TAYLOR’S CHECKERSPOT BUTTERFLIES AT THE ZOO LAID A RECORD-BREAKING 3,000 EGGS THIS YEAR”THIS IS A GROUNDBREAKING YEAR FOR CHECKERSPOTS,” SAID MARY JO ANDERSEN, ZOO BUTTERFLY CONSERVATIONIST. “WE WERE ALMOST A LITTLE TOO SUCCESSFUL.”THE SUCCESS OF THE ZOO’S CHECKERSPOT PROGRAM, HEADED BY ELAYNE BARCLAY AND MELISSA ARNOLD, WAS DUE IN PART TO NEW BREEDING METHODS.”WE PUT A FEMALE INTO A TINY TENT WITH MULTIPLE MALES, CREATING A SENSE OF COMPETITION,” SAID ANDERSEN. “BUTTERFLIES ARE ESSENTIALLY SOLAR-POWERED, SO WE PUT THE TENTS UP TO THE WINDOW, AND WERE AMAZED BY THE POSITIVE RESULTS.WHILE THE CHECKERSPOTS WON’T BE READY FOR RELEASE INTO THE WILD UNTIL NEXT SPRING, 300 PUPAE OF THE OREGON SILVERSPOT BUTTERFLY, ANOTHER THREATENED SPECIES REARED AT THE ZOO, WERE RELEASED AT THREE COASTAL SITES OVER THE PAST SE
March 2008 marks the second year in a row that the Oregon Zoo’s butterfly conservation station has successfully reared Taylor’s checkerspot larvae, making significant progress in the effort to save the threatened Northwest butterfly. For four years prior, the zoo collaborated with WDFW to develop husbandry protocols and raise the checkerspots. In 2007, the zoo and WDFW released 199 checkerspots into the wild. This year, as the larvae continue to flourish, the zoo hopes to let loose close to 460 checkerspots. This is the first year the release will consist of both caterpillars and pupae. Once abundant in the Northwest, Taylor’s checkerspots are now listed as a species of concern in Washington state and are under review for federal listing. Today, their range is limited to isolated pockets of upland prairie throughout the Northwest. Without large, connected populations, the butterflies struggle to survive. In addition to conserving Taylor’s checkerspots, the zoo has achieved great succes
In Portland, Oregon the city’s zoo is releasing endangered butterflies. Zoo officials say over five-thousand Taylor’s Checkerspot butterflies were recently introduced to the wild. The number is being called a record for the rare insects born in captivity. The Checkerspot is endangered in Washington State and is eligible for federal protection as well. Zoo officials say it was a bad summer for the butterflies living in the wild, making the lab-raised insects even more vital to the species’ survival.
