This surgery was a total metamorphosis!<\/p>\n
An injured monarch butterfly<\/a> with a ripped-off wing is able to fly again thanks to a first-of-its kind transplant at a nature preserve on Long Island.<\/p>\n The endangered beauty underwent a wild new surgery to receive a replacement wing from a similarly sized dead butterfly at Sweetbriar Nature Center, according to footage.<\/p>\n The injured insect is shown having its wing delicately replaced with fine tools \u2014\u00a0then happily fluttering away \u201cso it can continue\u00a0 its migration down to Mexico,\u201d the center said in the footage, which was posted on Facebook<\/a> last week.<\/p>\n A monarch butterfly with a ripped-off wing was able to fly again thanks a first-of-its kind wing transplant. Sweetbriar Nature Center via Storyful<\/p>\n \u201cUsing a wing from a deceased butterfly, we carefully matched it to the broken wing and performed a delicate repair. The result? You\u2019d never know this monarch is flying with a replacement wing,\u201d a rep for the center wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cWatching it take off brought tears to my eyes\u2014this tiny traveler now has a second chance at life, and at completing its incredible journey.\u201d<\/p>\n The winged wonder made its incredible comeback after a Good Samaritan first called to ask if the nature center could help repair its injury. <\/p>\n With a \u201cwing from a deceased butterfly, we carefully matched it to the broken wing and performed a delicate repair\u201d at the Sweetbriar Nature Center. Sweetbriar Nature Center via Storyful<\/p>\n The nature center used a wing from a dead butterfly in its butterfly vivarium display to perform the procedure.<\/p>\n Other details about how the wing transplanted were not immediately clear Thursday.<\/p>\n