SMITHTOWN, N.Y. – A monarch butterfly has a new lease on life after he received the first butterfly wing transplant at a wildlife rehabilitation center.

The endangered insect was recently brought to Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown, New York, with a bent wing that had partially broken off. According to Sweetbriar’s Director of Wildlife Rehabilitation Janine Bendicksen, the animal likely emerged from his chrysalis with his wing deformed.

She noted that his condition would have made taking flight virtually impossible for the butterfly, as having one broken wing throws off the symmetry necessary for him to take to the skies – and fight to survive.

"He would’ve died, 100%," Bendicksen told FOX Weather.

Sweetbriar rehabilitators considered bringing him into their vivarium, or butterfly

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