Monarch butterfly populations have declined 80-90% over the past two decades due to habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change, raising questions about insect conservation and welfare.
Monarch welfare considerations span both individual and population levels. Pesticide exposure impairs flight and orientation, causing disorientation and likely stress responses in affected butterflies. Habitat loss means caterpillars travel farther to find milkweed, expending energy and increasing predator exposure. Climate disruption affects the timing of migration and the availability of nectar sources during the journey. Whether butterflies experience suffering in a morally significant sense remains contested, but the precautionary principle and their ecological role both justify conservation action.