A monarch butterfly with a severely damaged wing has been given a second chance at life thanks to an unprecedented surgical procedure at a Long Island nature preserve.
The endangered butterfly underwent a delicate transplant at Sweetbriar Nature Center, receiving a replacement wing from a deceased butterfly of similar size. Video footage shared on Facebook last week shows the intricate procedure, with staff carefully attaching the new wing using fine tools. Soon after, the butterfly was seen fluttering off, ready to continue its migration to Mexico.
“Using a wing from a deceased butterfly, we carefully matched it to the broken wing and performed a delicate repair. The result? You’d never know this monarch is flying with a replacement wing,” a Sweetbriar spokesperson said. “Watching it take off brought tears to my eyes—this tiny traveler now has a second chance at life and completing its incredible journey.”
The butterfly’s rescue began when a Good Samaritan contacted the center for help. Staff used a wing from a butterfly previously displayed in the center’s butterfly vivarium to perform the repair. Specific details of the transplantation technique have not been disclosed.
Monarchs are the only insects known to migrate thousands of miles in a multi-generational journey each year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Scientists believe the butterflies navigate using the sun, Earth’s magnetic field, and other natural cues, traveling from the Northern U.S. to overwintering sites in Mexico and along California’s coast.
The species has faced severe population declines in recent decades due to habitat loss, primarily the destruction of milkweed caused by herbicides. Between 2012 and 2022, North American monarch populations fell by as much as 72%, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Their rapid decline led to the species being listed as endangered in July 2022.