Oregon Zoo Releases Endangered Butterflies

July 15th, 2009
by: RNS Newsroom Solutions

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.

Click here to read more about the butterflies on the zoo’s website.