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 Daily
Animals UK News
Butterfly Survey 2023
How many butterfly species can be
found in the UK? 
• Currently, there are 59 species
of butterfly in the UK. Two of
these are migrant species, they
are the Clouded Yellow and
Painted Lady.
• In the last 150 years, five
species of butterfly have become
extinct in the UK.
It’s time for the Big Butterfly Count!
People are invited to help ‘take nature’s pulse’
by helping count the UK’s butterfly population
between the 14th July and 6th August.
The annual event is run by the Butterfly
Conservation and was first started in 2010.
How can people take part? Well, all they need
is 15 minutes!
First, people will need to ensure that they
are prepared. The Butterfly Conservation has
butterfly ID charts featuring species of butterflies
and day-flying moths. This chart will help people
to identify any butterflies they spy.
Next, they will need to find a suitable spot to
observe nature and see if they spy any butterflies
in the 15 minute time frame.
Then, they must record which species of
butterfly they spotted during that time. This
information can be inputted using the Butterfly
Conservation’s website or the app designed for
the Big Butterfly Count.
On the app, there is also an interactive
map. It shows the user the data that has been
collected in each area of the UK.
Once all of the data has been collected, it is
used to form a report that shares the results of
the survey with the public.
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News
19th July 2023
Photo: Red Admiral butterfly.
Last year’s report showed that there had been
a substantial decline in the number of
butterflies in the UK. In fact, it showed
that the number had dropped by 80% since
the 1970s.
It also showed that, due to climate change,
plants fed on by caterpillars were unable
to survive in the high temperatures the UK
experienced last year. The charity wants to find
out if this has affected the number of butterflies
this year.
However, it wasn’t all bad news. The 2022
report showed that efforts to stop numbers
from falling through conservation work were
successful.
So, will you spend 15 minutes butterfly-
watching to help this year’s Big Butterfly Count?
Glossary
migrant A species that has moved from
one country to another.
extinct To no longer exist.
substantial A large amount.
conservation The act of protecting nature
and the environment.
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 Butterfly Survey 2023

Questions
1. According to the fact box, how many species of butterfly can be found in the UK?


2. Give the meaning of the word ‘population’ as it is used in this sentence: People are invited
to help ‘take nature’s pulse’ by helping count the UK’s butterfly population between the
14th July and 6th August.






3. Tick to show whether the statement is true or false according to the article.
True False
The Big Butterfly Count ends on the 14th July.
5 species of UK butterfly have become extinct in the last 200 years.
The Clouded Yellow butterfly originates from another country.
In the last 70 years, the population of butterflies in the UK has
dropped by 80%.

4. In what year did the Big Butterfly Count first begin?



5. What do you think the results of this year’s Big Butterfly Count will be?






6. Write an alternative headline that could be used for this story using six words or fewer.


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