Butterfly enclosure smashed as storms hit Missouri. Watch zoo’s ‘delicate’ rescue
The safe barrier protecting dozens of butterflies at a Missouri zoo was breached as winds toppled trees and tornadoes ripped through the state.
The May 16 storm shattered the butterfly dome at the St. Louis Zoo which put the tiny creatures at risk, the zoo said in a May 22 Facebook post.
Though the branches kept many of the dozens of butterflies contained, zoo staff needed to act fast in order to keep them safe and a “delicate” rescue followed.
“Keepers knew what to do. They train regularly for emergency recoveries just like this. They quickly checked the area for safety and used nets to carefully catch and contain the dome’s colorful residents,” zoo officials said.
Now, the small creatures have been temporarily relocated to a nearby butterfly house in Chesterfield, Missouri. “They’re doing well,” the zoo said.
The crew then got to work clearing the broken pieces of the dome that fell into the enclosure, photos and videos show.
The zoo said there were no major injuries to animals or staff caused by the storms, but downed trees required significant cleanup for days, the zoo said on May 18.
Some areas of the zoo will remain temporarily closed for repairs, such as the butterfly enclosure, but the zoo has reopened as of May 19.
This story was originally published May 23, 2025 at 11:02 AM with the headline "Butterfly enclosure smashed as storms hit Missouri. Watch zoo’s ‘delicate’ rescue."
