Filling the ecological gap of an extinct butterfly

Breakdown

• The Xerxes blue butterfly, once common in San Francisco, became extinct due to habitat loss. 5s
• Researchers have restored sand dunes in the Presidio and released silvery blue butterflies, the Xerxes' closest living relative. 48s
• The project aims to fill the ecological gap left by the Xerxes, including pollination and supporting local food webs. 1m 21s
• About 50 silvery blue butterflies have been released so far, with some already observed laying eggs. 2m 13s
• The effort is seen as a step toward building ecosystem resilience amid climate change. 2m 4s