One of the most amazing natural wonders of the world is the annual migration of the beautiful orange and black Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus plexippus).
This month, thousands of Monarch butterflies begin a northward journey from their winter homes in the forests of central Mexico to Canada. It is a daunting 3,000-mile migration that can take two months and involve up to five generations to complete. The Monarchs begin their return trip southward to Mexico in late summer.
This delicate looking insect is unbelievably tenacious. Monarchs face perilous odds in making the roundtrip migration, including changing weather patterns and loss of habitats for roosting and nourishment through logging, urban development, and drought. And yet, swarms of 500,000 individual butterflies manage to embark on the migratory flights every year.
In 2017, Fearless & Far (and Fun!) adventurer Mike Corey visited two protected Monarch butterfly sanctuaries in the Mexican state of Michoacán, Santuario Sierra Chincua, and Santuario El Rosario. Enjoy his video adventure!
Related Story:
Check out Mike’s visit to Santuario de las Luciérnagas – Mexico’s Firefly Sanctuary.