Photographic Quest: Saving Monarch Butterflies with Jaime Rojo

Monarch butterflies are known to be particularly active during the day at the El Rosario Sanctuary. Hundreds of them gather near a small stream to drink essential fluids and minerals from the moist soil. However, this remarkable migratory species, a significant symbol of North American wildlife, is under severe threat. Over the last 40 years, their population has plummeted by 90%, endangering their survival and the ecosystems that rely on them.

"Preserving Monarchs" is a project by Jaime Rojo, a National Geographic photographer and explorer. Rojo has spent two decades documenting the migration of these butterflies and the challenges they face. His work offers a comprehensive view of the threats to this species and the initiatives in place to protect them.

The Threat to Monarch Butterflies

The decline in the monarch butterfly population is not an isolated incident. It reflects a global biodiversity crisis. Over the last fifty years, the world has lost 73% of its wildlife, a figure that highlights the magnitude of the problem.

Monarch butterflies are known for their annual migration, covering thousands of kilometers from Canada and the United States to the oyamel forests in Mexico. They face numerous threats including habitat loss due to deforestation and intensive agriculture, climate change, and the use of pesticides that harm milkweed plants, vital for their reproduction. These factors have endangered one of the longest and most fascinating migrations in the animal kingdom.

Using Photography for Conservation

Rojo, also a senior member of the International League of Conservation Photographers and a trustee of the WILD Foundation, uses his images to promote nature conservation. In the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Michoacán, Mexico, he captures images of butterflies settling in for the night, providing warmth and protection to each other.

He also photographs monarch butterflies feeding on a Liatris flower on a native plant farm in Foley, Minnesota. This flower is a crucial food source for the butterflies during their fall migration. Rojo took 20,000 photographs over three weeks to capture the image of migratory monarch butterflies traversing the trees on their way to the same oyamel forests where previous generations spent the winter.

The Impact of Photography on Conservation

Photography has become a pivotal tool in raising awareness about the environmental crisis and promoting action. Rojo's commitment to monarch butterflies has spanned over half his life, and his work reflects this long-term commitment. Many of the images he has captured have never been available for acquisition, but will now be accessible to the public.