If you counted all the migratory monarch butterflies in California in 1992, you might total five million. But today, that number is less than 2,000. How did one of the most popular butterflies in the world begin to disappear? Xerces Society’s Senior Endangered Species Conservation Biologist Emma Pelton unravels the mystery of why the western monarch is vanishing, and she and horticulturist and native plant specialist Carol Bornstein explore ways that everyone can help. Meanwhile at the zoo, Curator of Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish Ian Recchio tells us how his team is working to save a largely unknown, nondescript amphibian called the southern mountain yellow-legged frog from extinction.

To find out more about what the Xerces Society is doing for the Western Monarch and how you can help: https://xerces.org/western-monarch-call-to-action

For more information about programs at the L.A. Zoo visit lazoo.org

BiodiverCity is made possible with support from The Gottlieb Native Garden.


Host:
Dr Jake Owens, Director of Conservation, Los Angeles Zoo

Executive Producers:
Susan Gottlieb
Tom Jacobson
Diane Shader Smith
Denise Verret

Producers:
April Merl
Jake Owens

Associate Producer:
Brenda Scott Royce

Original Music:
Micah Smith

Additional contributions from:
Hannah Beal
Bennett Rea