Mexico: the number of monarchs doubled

Conservationists say the number of monarch butterflies in Mexico has more than doubled this winter after a year of devastating storms. Even so, this famous North American butterfly is still threatened.

King butterflies are dense on a tree branch in the reserve
Pedro Herrada in Michoacan state, Mexico on 1-2.
(Photo: Xinhua, Reuters)

Every year, millions of king butterflies (Danaus Plexippus) make a journey of nearly 3,200 km from Canada to winter in the forests of central Mexico. Researchers said last year, the monarchs migrated to Mexico in an unprecedented amount, but this year the number of butterflies has more than doubled, they are parked on about 10 hectares of forest.

' This is certainly a great news, showing that the butterfly herds are showing signs of recovery, ' said Omar Vidal, director of the International Fund for Nature Protection in Mexico. However, according to Vidal, through the ' population ' statistics reports of the monarch since 1993, this is the fourth year with the lowest number of butterflies.

According to scientists, unusual storms and winters are becoming more and more severe due to climate change, large-scale logging and expansion of agricultural farms making living environment a major cause. threat to this butterfly.