Conservation
The species is not rare, but some populations are declining due to deforestation. Ornithoptera victoriae is, like all other birdwing butterflies, a strictly protected species. It is listed in the Appendix II of CITES, meaning that international trade is restricted to captive-raised specimens. The Solomon Islands, which include a significant part of this species' range, only became a signatory to CITES in 2007 (Papua New Guinea have been a signatory for many years). Despite that Solomon Islands has engaged the CITES controls, note that a vestigal USFWS ruling has not been updated, thus importation of O. victoria from Solomon Islands (but not Bougainville, PNG Autonomous) to the USA remains prohibited.
Read more about this topic: Ornithoptera Victoriae
Famous quotes containing the word conservation:
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—William Howard Taft (1857–1930)
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