Let's move to effective planning & action to safeguard butterflies & other pollinators!

More news soon on European moths as well, watch this space!

Thanks also to @nat-zag10.bsky.social for spearheading our Swallowtail of the Month feature. With July around the corner, what will the next species be?

We are also aware that in our rush to get this post out, we called this the common swallowtail when we wanted to type 'birdwing'. Multitasking is not our strength! 😂

🎙️ Listen to #swallowtail experts @sbbtrust.bsky.social & @iucnbutterflysg.bsky.social in episode 21 of the ZSL Wild Science podcast: open.spotify.com/episode/68fzMl…#TheRuffordFoundationon

@sbbtrust.bsky.social @protectspecies.bsky.social @zslscience.bsky.social

If you want to learn more about swallowtails & the Global Swallowtail Assessment, check out the @zslscience.bsky.social WildScience podcast: open.spotify.com/episode/68fz...

The Common Birdwing’s Green Status assessment suggests that it is Largely Depleted, but a recovery score of 50% puts the species into the Medium Recovery Potential category because much suitable habitat remains throughout the indigenous range.

www.iucnredlist.org/species/9118...

A species’ Green Status assessment identifies the impact that conservation actions have had on a species, as well as the future recovery potential of a species.

You can find out more here: www.iucnredlist.org/about/green-...

Birdwing butterflies are the giants of the butterfly world! The Common birdwing, like other birdwing butterfly species, was historically popular with collectors & has experienced declines in its habitat contributing to population declines.

Photo credit @Bhaiya Khanal

The Common Birdwing is the first & so far only swallowtail species to have both an IUCN Red List & IUCN Green Status assessment. It is classified as Least Concern on the Red List as it has a large range across South to Southeast Asia, and into Papua New Guinea.

www.iucnredlist.org/species/9118...

@sbbtrust.bsky.social

Last but by no means least, a huge shoutout to our @protectspecies.bsky.social intern Natalie Zagorski who has helped with preparing our Swallowtail of the Month feature!

Thank you so much! 🦋

The main purpose is to celebrate these beautiful butterflies & update you all on our Global Swallowtail Assessment. So far, we have assessed >200 species under the current IUCN Red List Categories & Criteria, including some species previously assessed in 1985 & 1996.

Let the final countdown begin!

This paper is a wake up call to action for butterflies!

www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...

Congratulations on this important paper to all the authors - the group also included members of IUCN SSC Butterfly & Moth Specialist Group! Long-term monitoring is vital to our understanding of nature & how to effectively safeguard it!