Artist : My contribution for :iconashleynicholsart:‘s charity artbook; Friendship is Wild! 100% of the proceeds go to WildAid, an organization dedicated to stopping poaching and the trade in poached animal parts such as ivory and shark fins. It’s a wonderful cause I support whole-heartedly.

ashleynicholsart.storenvy.com/

Being a huge bug lover I decided to focus on a facet of wildlife conservation that often gets overlooked; illegal insect trade for pets, pinned specimens, and even living jewelry (they glue gems and chains to live beetles as brooches, it’s disgusting.) Some butterflies can fetch up to $5,000 dollars a piece, so it’s a very lucrative illegal market. Every butterfly featured on here is endangered or a CITES I species (endangered to the point that any trade is illegal.) The only exception is the Monarch Butterfly on her flanks, which sadly is being considered for the endangered species list this year.

Cutie mark: Palos Verdes Blue, Monarch, Bhutan Glory

Left wing: Queen Alexandra Birdwing, Luzon Peacock Swallowtail

Right wing: Rajah Brooke Birdwing, Ceylon Rose