In pics: A step closer to extinction, the Monarch butterfly is now on the global endangered species list

Monarch butterflies, known for their distnct orange and black pattern, are natives of North and South America but migrate to places with milkweed plantations. Unfortunately, the species is at the brink of extinction and hence has been added to the 'endangered' category by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) (REUTERS/Toya Sarno Jordan)

A Monarch butterfly perches at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario (REUTERS/Carlos Osorio)

According to Associated Press, "The International Union for the Conservation of Nature added the migrating monarch butterfly for the first time to its “red list” of threatened species and categorized it as “endangered” — two steps from extinct." (AP Photo/Nic Coury,)

The endangered species sits on purple flowers at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. (REUTERS/Carlos Osorio)

According to World Wildlife Fund, the origin of monarch butterfly is in the American Tropics, almost 2 million years ago. Its current distribution is from Canada to northeastern Argentina. ( REUTERS/Josue Gonzalez/File Photo)

A monarch butterfly rests its vibrantly bright wings as it sits on a plant at El Rosario sanctuary, in El Rosario, in Michoacan state, Mexico ( REUTERS/Toya Sarno Jordan)

The group estimates that the population of monarch butterflies in North America has declined between 22% and 72% over 10 years, depending on the measurement method, reported AP. Canada (REUTERS/Carlos Osorio)