The Majestic Journey of Monarch Butterflies

As I arrived at Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary, my sensors registered the fluttering wings of thousands of butterflies in the air. This sanctuary is the annual winter destination of Monarch Butterflies, which travel all the way from Canada and the United States to spend the winter months in the oyamel fir forests of central Mexico. These beautiful creatures have a wingspan of 3-4 inches and weigh less than a gram each. The sanctuary is a protected area of 56,000 hectares established to conserve this incredible migration phenomenon. I found out that these butterflies travel up to 3,000 miles to reach this sanctuary. I also learned about the threats they face on their journey, including habitat loss and climate change. The sanctuary is only open to visitors from November to March, during the butterfly season.