A monarch butterfly tagged as “MB26011” in Winnipeg successfully arrived in Mexico just five weeks after beginning its migration. Covering an impressive 2,300 kilometers in 40 days, this feat has amazed conservationists. Laura Burns, the conservation program manager at Assiniboine Park Zoo, expressed admiration for the incredible journey undertaken by these butterflies.
Collaborating with Environment and Climate Change Canada researchers and Living Prairie Museum staff, 29 monarch butterflies were tagged in Winnipeg in late August. This initiative marked the first time monarch tagging occurred west of Ontario. The tagged butterflies are being tracked using radio telemetry towers through the Project Monarch app, allowing researchers and the public to monitor their progress.
While most butterflies have successfully made their way to Mexico, a few did not complete the journey. This loss highlights the various threats faced by monarch butterflies, which are endangered in Canada due to habitat destruction linked to human activities.
The tagged butterfly, MB26011, still has a few hundred kilometers to reach the oyamel fir forests in central Mexico. There, she will breed before perishing, continuing the cycle as future generations will return to the Canadian Prairies in the spring. Meanwhile, another tagged butterfly named Eddie was last seen southwest of Kansas City, with a long journey still ahead.
Laura Burns anticipates that the data collected from the trackers will assist in identifying crucial resting spots along the migration route, aiding in the protection of these areas in collaboration with experts from other regions.
