The Butterfly Project at Moorpark College’s America’s Teaching Zoo held its first open-house this year on Sept. 16.
The Butterfly Project, established in 2005 by biology professor Dr. Jana Johnson, is dedicated to preserving both the Palos Verde blue and Lange’s Metalmark butterflies by harvesting them from ecologically challenging environments that threaten their existence.
“Although we live in the midst of a fully-developed city we do have endangered wildlife right here,” said Johnson.
Johnson began caring for endangered butterflies while attending UCLA graduate school, working with Dr. Rudi Mattoni.
The Butterfly Project provides a nurturing environment for the Palos Verde blue species, once considered at the point of extinction due to construction of a baseball field in Hess Park, Rancho Palos Verde. It is also dedicated to sustaining the Lange’s Metalmarkbutterfly, which came to be in risk of extinction due to ecological consequences of demolishing sand dunes to promote large-scale mining and industrial development. The Butterfly Project works in conjunction with The Urban Wildlands Group, an establishment that is dedicated to the conservation of species, habitats, and ecological processes in urban and urbanizing areas.
The Butterfly Project has 24 interns who assist in the capture of the butterflies as well as perform day-to-day care. They feed the butterflies and provide climate control, allowing the butterflies reproduce.
Katie Virun, one of the interns who works with Johnson, initiated The Butterfly Project after attending an exhibit on the endangered El Segundo blue butterfly in its natural habitat.
The organization also recycles materials, grows their own plants that they use to feed the butterflies, and relies on the generous nurturing of the interns and Johnson.
“We’re always looking for supplies. Soup containers are always helpful,” said Virun.
Jane Jones, an intern for the Butterfly Project, views this as a great system to study and preserve the butterflies.
“In the wild, the butterflies live for three to seven days,” said Jones. “In captivity they thrive for a month.”
The public has supported the Butterfly Project in various ways, from actual funding, to the publication of a mystery novel named after the butterflies, Palos Verdes Blue, written by John Shannon.
The Butterfly Project welcomes all who wish to participate in continuing to raise awareness on local conservation, and welcomes donations of specific art supplies. For more information contact Jana Johnson at [email protected].
