Apollo Butterfly, Baden Wurttemberg, Germany

By Mario Nonaka

The apollo butterfly is the largest butterfly in Germany and unfortunately also the most endangered one. It is classified as critically endangered. There are only some very small isolated populations left. Reasons for the massive decline is again loss and destruction of habitat and the use of herbicides in agriculture. Photographing these beautiful butterflies was long on my bucket list. I really hope that the conservation measures will bring this unique butterfly back from the brink of extinction.