Is this the end for monarch butterflies? A massive drop in the butterflies' population generates attention from endangered species protection.

The future of the monarch butterfly is dark as the population continues to drop.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - In 1996, an estimated 1 billion of the remarkable, and striking butterflies migrated and arrived to their winter homes in Mexico, according to a report by Newsweek.

Just last year, only 33 million of the monarch butterflies migrated. This devastating number is a record low.

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This startling change prompted conservation groups to petition the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for the species to be listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Information will be gathered from scientists and citizens about the species' current state of health and biology over a two-month-long period. According to Newsweek, the entire process of reviewing and declaring the species endangered is expected to take a year.

"The Endangered Species Act is the most powerful tool available to save North America's monarchs, so I'm really happy that these amazing butterflies are a step closer to the protection they so desperately need," expressed Tierra Curry, scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity.

The demise of the monarch butterflies is speculated to be based on loss of habitat and the increasing decline in preserving milkweed. Milkweed is the only source of food for monarch butterflies; it is also where they lay their eggs.

According to Science Recorder, "the loss of milkweed is directly related to the more and more widespread use by agribusiness of the Monsanto-made herbicide Roundup since 1996."

Illegal logging of oyamel trees and the evergreen in Mexico also plays a part in the species population drop, as is the warming climate.

If the monarch butterfly gets placed on USFWS' endangered list, killing the butterflies will be illegal and guidelines for their conservation is likely to be implemented.

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