A monarch butterfly with a broken wing The bird’s seasonal migration was reportedly on the verge of being aborted, but thanks to the team at the Sweetbriar Nature Center based in Long Island, USA, and a brilliant idea, it was able to regain its ability to fly CBSNews.
Janine Bendicksen, the center’s wildlife rehabilitation manager, welcomed the little “patient.” couldn’t flap his wings. She was brought there by Dagmar Hoffdavis, a Deer Park resident for whom butterflies have deep spiritual meaning, reports RT.
When Bendicksen saw the injury, he decided to try something that had never been done before at the center: Transplant a wing from another dead butterfly found in the children’s room.
A monarch butterfly with a broken wing was saved through a delicate donor wing transplant
📹 sweetbriarnaturecenter
pic.twitter.com/KJc7gPG7LT– Science Girl (@sciencegirl) October 4, 2025
The cautious action, which lasted just five minutes, was recorded and quickly went viral Millions of views. Bendicksen explained that the procedure required extreme precision to prevent the insect from falling apart under pressure, he says. RT.
He used contact cement, cornstarch and a small wire to support the delicate “patient.” Fortunately, The butterfly felt no painas their wings have no nerve receptors or blood flow in the outer sections.
Not only the successful transplant restored the freedom of the monarchbut also attracted interest at home and abroad. Professionals from places like Minnesota, California and even outside the U.S. like Costa Rica contacted Bendicksen, inspired by his work, he says. RT.
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