Monarch Situation in Mexico
is NOT dire

A report from the overwintering sites
by Paul Cherubini

March 2002


Following press reports of massive Monarch deaths in their natural overwintering sites (See "Storm in Mexico Devastates Monarch Butterfly Colonies") IBBA Advisory Board member Paul Cherubini travelled to Mexico to see for himself.

Monarch Situation in Mexico is NOT dire

I just returned from the overwintering sites in Mexico where I took pictures of the tens of millions of monarchs still alive. In fact, according to Eligio Garcia, the biologist in charge of monitoring the colonies, there are more monarchs alive in Mexico right now than last year at the same time. Here are some pictures (click for enlargement):

Small part of Chincua colony Feb. 24, 2002Small part of Chincua colony Feb. 24, 2002
Monarchs filled the air around usMonarchs filled the air around us and landed on us.

Telephoto of El Rosario colony Feb. 22, 2002Telephoto of El Rosario colony Feb. 22, 2002

Orange band through center of photo are millions of monarchs covering the trees.

Paul Cherubini
Placerville, Calif.
monarch@saber.net




Back to the Home Page