A member of my community asked me about how to conduct a butterfly release in an ethical & eco-friendly manner for an event. I did not know anything about the subject, so I did some searching and found this helpful article on how to host an ethical and eco-friendly butterfly release.
It’s from a butterfly farm in Florida, and they do seem to know what they’re talking about. https://www.clearwaterbutterfly.com/blog/how-to-host-an-ethical-eco-friendly-butterfly-release/
Any of you who know about this topic, please also feel free to chime in in the comments. Thank you!
PS. Even though this article goes into more respectful ways of dealing with a butterfly release, including most importantly using farm raised butterflies rather than grabbing butterflies from the wild, I personally would choose a different way to honor my event. Something that would not involve other living beings. Maybe an eco-friendly balloon release, for example. It seems to me that using the bodies of other living beings for entertainment in this manner is just colonizer entitlement.
Unless, perhaps, the butterflies are being released into an area that has traditionally had a population of that species, and the environment is favorable to their survival and thriving. Then also an educational component could be included in the event, letting people know about the goals and circumstances of the release.
But if you have your heart set on a butterfly release, I say go with Clearwater Butterfly or another provider who is well-versed in the ethical and ecological aspects.
Or: A person could instead maybe have their wedding or other celebration at a butterfly sanctuary or botanical garden. Or at local field or meadow. Places that naturally attract a lot of butterflies.