It's now technically possible to capture the Legendary Birds of Kanto from Pokémon Red and Blue in real life, as three newly-discovered species of beetle in Australia have been named after Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. The Legendary Birds are among the five original Legendary/Mythical Pokémon created for the Pokémon franchise.
The three Legendary Birds were spread all around the world in Pokémon Red and Blue. Each of them was incredibly difficult to catch, unless the player was willing to burn a Master Ball. Articuno could be found in the Seafoam Islands, hidden behind a maze of dark waterways. Moltres was found guarding the Victory Road, giving the player a chance to catch a Legendary Pokémon to aid them against the mighty Elite Four. Zapdos lurked deep within the Power Plant, waiting to electrify anyone that dared approach them. A lot of players struggled the most with the Legendary Birds, as many of them saved their Master Ball for Mewtwo, meaning they had to resort to attacks, status effects, and a whole lot of Ultra Balls.
Scientists have named real-life discoveries after Pokémon in the past, such as the Aerodactylus fossil, named after Aerodactyl. Three newly-discovered species of beetle can join the Pokémon name club, as they have been named after Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos. According to the Eastern New Mexico University (via. Dr. Lava on Twitter), these beetles were discovered by Dr. Darren Pollock and Yun Hsiao, as part of their research into species of beetle that are native to Australia.
According to Pollock, he had previously discovered a new genus of beetle in Australia, which he named Binburrum. Hsiao later determined that were different variations of Binburrum and three types were identified. Being a Pokémon fan in his youth, Hsiao suggested naming the three after the Legendary Birds of Kanto from Pokémon Red and Blue. This led to the beetles being named Binburrum Articuno, Binburrum Moltres, and Binburrum Zapdos. It's possible that there are more species of Binburrum out there in the world, and Pollock suggested that they might also receive Pokémon names. Maybe the Galarian Legendary Birds are next?
Pokémon is the biggest media franchise in the world and it helped shape the imagination of young people around the globe. Pokémon Red and Blue are still fondly remembered by fans around the world, and the effect of Red's first journey through Kanto left a mark on a lot of people. The creator of Pokémon has said that the inspiration for the series came from his bug-hunting hobby as a kid, so it's fitting that now real-life bugs are being named after creatures from the series he built.
Source: Eastern New Mexico University, Dr. Lava