Three of the world’s most beautiful creatures are on the brink of extinction due to the impact of an outdated hobby. The butterfly species are netted by collectors and curio sellers because of their bright colours. They are killed, pinned to boards, and framed behind glass.
Native to Brazil, the destruction of their habitat has devastated populations. But so too has their export to wealthy customers in the United States where the insects are popular as a decorative item.
Overnight, the Center for Biological Diversity celebrated a decision by the US to list three species of swallowtail butterfly as endangered. The announcement followed a 2021 lawsuit by the Center which alleged the government was failing in its duty of care to protect them.
By listing foreign species as endangered, US authorities are able to ban their import and sale, increase awareness about threats, and secure financial assistance to protect them.
The Center’s Sarah Uhlemann says “these US protections will go a long way toward keeping these three beleaguered butterflies from being plucked from their native habitat, and brought into the country dead as décor.”
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The Fluminense swallowtail is one of three Brazilian species newly listed as endangered in the United States. Source: Joe Schelling
Which butterflies have been listed as endangered?
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Hahnel’s Amazonian swallowtail is found in tributaries of the Amazon and is threatened by over collection.
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Harris’ mimic swallowtail is found in coastal Atlantic forests and is listed as critically endangered in Brazil due to habitat destruction and the international collection trade.
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Fluminense swallowtail is impacted by collectors, but it’s biggest pressure is the targeting of its swamp habitat near Rio de Janeiro by developers.
The Hahnel’s Amazonian swallowtail is now protected under US law. Source: Pablo Cocito via US Fish and Wildlife Service
Harris’ mimic swallowtail is the third species listed by US authorities. Source: Joe Scheling via US Fish and Wildlife Service
How big a problem is collecting wild animals?
Australia is also home to a thriving trade in rare animal imports. Dozens of insect and bat species are trapped in developing nations and then legally imported for sale in markets and stores.
Bats in particular are potential vectors of zoonotic diseases, which risk being spread around the globe. While the bodies are treated with ionising radiation to kill disease once they reach our shores, the practice of catching wild bats can compromise the health of Indonesian and South East Asian workers.
Globally there are over 166,000 plants and animals listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of threatened species. There are more than 600 foreign species listed in the US as endangered, but there are dozens more waiting to be assessed.
Scientists are concerned about the spread of viruses from bats being caught and imported into Australia. Source: Facebook/Getty
Petitioning to list the swallowtails began in 1994, but they had sat on the agency’s candidate waitlist for decades.
“It’s good to see these swallowtails getting protections, but it’s shocking that it took 30 years to get action. As a major market for wildlife trade, the United States plays an integral role in protecting foreign species,” Uhlemann said.
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