Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly

The 2024 Collaboration with Wildlife Preservation Canada

In a collaboration to bring awareness to Canada’s species at risk, Wildlife Preservation Canada and signature member of Artists for Conservation Sarah McComb Turbitt created a challenge for Sarah to paint as many endangered Canadian species as she can during January 2024. In this collection, 15% will be donated to WPC. WPC saves critically endangered species whose numbers in the wild are so low that hands-on action is the last defence to save them from extinction. WPC is the only organization in Canada to provide this critical need for wildlife in recovery efforts across the country, from the single population of endangered frogs in BC to the disappearing pollinators across Ontario.

“As native grasslands are lost to agriculture and other development, the survival of the Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly hangs in the balance. Conservation breeding of Taylor’s checkerspots began in 2013 in a converted aviary on Denman Island. Two years later, we began releasing caterpillars into restored habitats on the island. Today, breeding has been moved to facilities at the Greater Vancouver Zoo, where we can produce thousands of caterpillars each year.” Learn more about how you can help at wildlifepreservation.ca.

Reference photography for inspiration was kindly provided by Lance Woolaver.

All original artwork is hand-signed by Sarah McComb-Turbitt and includes a certificate of authenticity and white cotton gloves for handling the painting upon delivery.