A University of Guelph project to reintroduce an endangered butterfly is the feature of a new documentary, Butterflies on the Brink: The Story of the Mottled Duskywing, which will have its first public premiere at the Princess Twin Cinemas in Waterloo in October.

The documentary follows the research and recovery team, led Dr. Ryan Norris from the Department of Integrative Biology and biologist Jessica Linton, with support from the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory team, as they work to reintroduce the mottled duskywing butterfly to Pinery Provincial Park. The project represents the first time a butterfly has ever been successfully reintroduced into Ontario, and, since their reintroduction in 2021, the butterflies are showing signs of recovery.

Once widespread across many parts of central Canada, mottled duskywings have nearly disappeared from Ontario. Like many other species, the butterfly’s number have plummeted in recent decades due to human development that has stolen their habitat. In 2012, the butterflies were declared endangered in Canada.

The cast and crew will be in attendance at both the Oct. 19 and 23 screenings!