NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Nashville Zoo is advocating for federal protection of monarch butterflies following officials’ plans to designate the insects as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the plan to add monarchs to the list of threatened species by the end of 2025 following a period for public comment.
The protection of the monarch under federal law would make it illegal to harm them or their habitat, and require the government to actively work towards recovery for both.
On Friday, the zoo announced its support of the action, citing that monarchs have seen an 84% population decline in recent years and have been severely impacted as a result of habitat loss and climate change.
At Nashville Zoo, we’ve created safe spaces for migrating monarchs, and we applaud the call to expand these protections. By restoring native plants like milkweed and reducing harmful herbicides, we can help reverse the decline.
Nashville Zoo
Additionally, the zoo shared a link for patrons to visit if they would like to share their thoughts regarding the issue of federal protections for monarchs. Visit regulations.gov to share comments.
