Why is the Queen Alexandra's birdwing endangered?

Answer 1

The Queen Alexandra's Birdwing is considered endangered by the IUCN[2], being restricted to approximately 100 square kilometres of coastal rainforest near Popondetta, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea. It is nonetheless abundant locally and requires old growth rainforest for its long term survival. The major threat for this species is habitat destruction for oil palm plantations. However, it must be noted that the eruption of nearby Mount Lamington in the 1950s destroyed a very large area of this species' former habitat and is a key reason for its current rarity. The species is also highly prized by collectors, with illegally traded specimens selling for thousands of dollars. Although collectors are often implicated with the decline of this species, habitat destruction is the main threat. Early collectors, frustrated by the height at which adults fly during the day, often used small shotguns to down specimens. but because collectors demand high quality specimens for their collections, most specimens are bred from larvae or pupae. The species is listed as an endangered under Appendix I of CITES, completely restricting its sale.

Answer 2

The Queen Alexandra's birdwing is endangered primarily due to habitat loss and destruction of their forests for agriculture and development. Additionally, they are heavily collected for the exotic pet trade, which further threatens their population. Conservation efforts are being made to protect and preserve this species.