Please....I need everyone's help....I've got a situation down here in south Texas. This is in regards to the rare rekoa marius hairstreak butterfly Gil, his family and myself worked so hard to raise and ensure they would live. Remember, the caterpillars had never been seen here before...and the butterflies are extremely rare!!!
Seems the local NABA chapter website has allowed photos of a DEAD pinned marius hairstreak butterfly to be posted on the same page where they posted photos of Gil and my caterpillars and the butterflies that emerged.
That DEAD pinnned marius hairstreak butterfly was captured by 'collectors' who came down to this area because they'd read and heard about our rare find. Finding these caterpillars and having the butterflies emerge and setting them free was big news in the butterfly world.
Their sole intent was to capture and KILL this rare butterfly. I do not know if it was for the benefit of science or because they wanted it in their collection...but I find it utterly disgusting that NABA, who stands for the conservation of butterflies and shows how to identify butterflies through binoculars and photographs would have photos of that DEAD butterfly on their website!
If these guys wanted one so badly why didn't they go to some other place around the world where they aren't as rare?! (and I am against doing that!) But I understand the need for science and study and I also know some butterflies have met their maker on my windshield - but the NABA website already posted excellent photos of the larvae, pupae and butterflies...there is no need so show off photos of DEAD Pinned Butterfly as if it is a trophy hunt.
They literally came onto our playground and kicked sand in our face by doing this!
This is a rare butterfly species that we worked so hard to keep alive and we did everything humanly possible to ensure the caterpillars would emerge as healthy butterflies.
If possible I would like all of the butterfly enthusiasts to please visit the south Texas NABA website and send an email to the our local chapter president to say how disgusted and disappointed you are.
Please use a subject line that commands attention like "DEAD Pinned Marius Butterfly on South Texas NABA"
NABA-South Texas
Kim Garwood - President
E-mail: verandahsoft@earthlink.net
I went straight to the top and emailed headquarters "naba@naba.org"
...but I know we could all have more of an impact if we hit the south Texas chapter as it is controlled by the local members.
~ * ~
Below is the webpage showing the the larvae and pupae stage of the ones Gil and I raised. It also shows perfectly good photos of the LIVE butterflies that emerged (that we set free).
Photos of the butterfly captured and killed last week is at the bottom with credit for that disgusting deed given to Ed Knudson and Charles Bordelon.
http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabast/RioHa.html
The main NABA page is www.naba.org - but you need to go to the south Texas NABA page to see the photos.
http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabast/index.html
...click on the "Photos and Videos" - "Recent Rio Grande Rarities" link - it is the first link listed: Hairstreak Larvae (Rekoa sp(p))- 13-14, 2005 - Edinburg, Mission, Hidalgo Co., TX
Your help is greatly appreciated. Please help me stop this insane need to kill and pin butterflies!!! NABA should not be promoting this practice by allowing photos of dead pinned butterflies on their website "When They Have Perfectly Good Photos Of Live Ones!!!
Remember...all of us here are butterfly enthusiasts...we do our best to make our gardens welcoming and ensure their safety. Schools, libraries and our kids look at these websites. Is this what we want to show the world and teach our kids?
This is a slap in the face to all of us who work so hard at butterfly conservation.
~ Cat Traylor
Help me stop NABA from posting photos of Pinned butterflies
Shame on them, and I'll whip off a scathing email too!
mg
MG,
My heartful thanks!!!
I do hope others will read this post and help out too.
~ Cat