Coinciding with LA Fleet Week, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy joined U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Brad Rosen for a release of endangered Palos Verdes Blue Butterflies at historic breeding grounds at the Defense Fuel Support Point, 3171 N. Gaffey St., San Pedro, on Thursday, May 23.
Rosen, who is in town for the four-day LA Fleet Week celebration in San Pedro, took part in the event, marking the Navy’s ongoing commitment to the butterfly recovery efforts over the past 30 years. Rosen and Navy Capt. Jessie O’Brien were presented with awards at the gathering.
The U.S. Navy and the Department of Defense are long-time supporters of conservation efforts to restore the PV blue butterfly habitat at the Defense Fuel Support Point.
The U.S. Navy and Department of Defense are long-time supporters of conservation efforts to restore the PV blue butterfly habitat at the Defense Fuel Support Point, the original location of captive butterfly breeding activities and host to the Land Conservancy’s Native Plant Nursery.
Participating in the program have also been the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College, the Urban Wildlands Group and the city of Rancho Palos Verdes.
Originally thought to be extinct, the rare butterfly was spotted in 1994 and first released into restored habitat in 2007.
The butterfly serves as a pollinator for Palos Verdes Peninsula habitats.
Also taking part in Thursday’s event were Conservancy Executive Director Adrienne Mohan, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Eric Porter, professor at the Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College and leader of the Palos Verdes Blue captive rearing program Jana Johnson. Also on hand were Los Angels Harbor Commissioner Lee Williams, City of Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor John Cruikshank, Director of the Urban Wildlands Group Travis Longcore, and the entomologist who helped rediscover the butterfly, Jess Morton.