Cal Poly

Ms. Sheila Boone, President
Butterfly Palace
San Luis Obispo, CA

Dear Sheila,

Pursuant to our telephone conversation, my statement below is in support of your quest to preserve and to manage the Cayucos wintering site as a monarch sanctuary. I have been studying the monarch's aggregation since 1989 and have published several scientific papers and manuscripts concerning this endangered phenomenon. In my opinion, Cayucos winter habitat is a significant site not only for San Luis Obispo county, but also for the State of California. there are only six to eight wintering sites in California that have supported 50,000 or more overwintering butterflies and Cayucos has the distinction of being one of them.

I should be emphasized the the long distance migration and winter aggregation of monarch butterflies are considered endangered phenomena being lost due to urban development, grove senescence and in California, diseases such as the pitch pine canker, caused by Fusarium subglutinans and the Australian eucalyptus insect borer, Phoracanter semipunctata. It is imperative, therefore, to preserve these phenomena by purchasing critical overwintering sites and by managing these sites to favor winter aggregations of monarch butterflies. The mass aggregation of monarch butterflies is a natural treasure found only in California and in Mexico.

I believe that Ms. Boone pursuit to preserve this natural endangered phenomenon is a noble and worthy cause. future generations of Californians would be thankful if your company supported her cause by providing the financial support for the purchase and the management of Cayucos site. Speaking for myself, I would be eternally grateful.

Sincerely,

Kingston L. H. Leong, Ph.D.
Biological Sciences

Pictured are Sheila Boone and Kingston Leong
Copyright © S. Boone Productions, Siamak Sehat, Photographer