The butterflies exhibited in this artwork have been reared or farmed by international farmers all over the world. A single female butterfly can lay between 250 to 1000 eggs in her lifetime, so only very few female butterflies are required to start captive populations. After starting a captive population there is only need to return to the wild occasionally to catch wild males to ensure the populations has good genetic diversity.

The reproductive capacity of butterflies ensures that the limited extraction of wild butterflies by the farmers will have no affect on the health of the wild population. The following generation will quickly fill any gaps left in the previous generation.

The primary cause of butterfly extinction is habitat destruction, and by providing an economic incentive to conserve butterfly habitats, butterfly farming is helping to conserve butterflies, along with other animal species found in these natural habitats.

The wild butterfly has a 2% chance of survival, and because many butterflies are in danger from predators, parasites, viruses or destroyed habitats, farming is helping to restore the environment with healthy butterflies, whilst maintaining their natural environments.

This artwork is created within the framework of CITES (Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species.) All butterflies are imported with the help and guidance of the Canadian Wildlife Service and no farmed or reared species included in this artwork is either rare or endangered.