In Mexico, almost disappeared butterflies are returning
2022.12.04 08:16
In Mexico, almost disappeared butterflies are returning
Budrigannews.com – They look from afar like an autumn leaf: millions of monastic butterflies, threatening to disappear, create a color of brown, orange and black, covered with trees.
They frown at the blind visitors who have come to see the annual traditions that continue, despite the environmental and human pressures that threaten it when the fresh mountain air warms up. Monarchs travel from the eastern United States and Canada to winter in the forests of Central and Western Mexico at a distance of 2,000 miles to 3,000 km.
Sierra Chiqua, an idyllic sanctuary of monasteries in the western part of Michoacan, attracts hundreds of tourists on a winter weekend. It’s about three hours by car from Mexico.
In 1986, Sierra Chiqua joined the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, which today contains 138 thousand acres and 56 thousand hectares. Juan Wilhelm, one of three dozen park-goers patrolling the forest and serving as guides, said: “Tourism gives an opportunity to preserve the forest – this is what we support families.” The 54-year-old Vidal claims that there are more monarchs now than before, when he was first invited here as a child.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which declared the migratory species of monasteries endangered in June, the population of this species has decreased from 22 to 72 in recent decades. Researchers believe that changes in the environment, pesticides, illegal logging are the reason for the decline in the number of people. In the mid-90s, the monks controlled 45 acres of 18 hectares in Michoacan and in Mexico, where they spend the winter.
However, by the winter of last year, the area had decreased to only 7 acres. However, the migration of last year gave a breakthrough of hopes for the future of the monks. Compared to 2020, their visit to Mexico has actually more than doubled. One of the Sierra Chiqua players, Luis Martinez, is expected to improve further this year.
More butterflies this year, as colonies have become bigger, he says. Some of the Mexicans believe that the monarchy butterfly is the reincarnation of the ancestors, as they begin to fly around the birthday of the deceased in early December.
