First person: Thinking globally, acting locally to save the monarch butterfly

MEGHNA CHAKRABARTI: On today’s main show, we talked about the fragile beauty of the monarch butterfly. Last month, the International Union for Conservation of Nature labeled the migratory monarch butterfly as endangered. We explored the butterflies’ spectacular fall migration, and the long-term habitat loss that threatens the monarchs. We started our journey in Mexico.

JOSE LUIS ALVAREZ: The monarchs are very mystical creatures, you know. They arrived here the Day of the Dead, which we celebrate here in Mexico. And a lot of the indigenous people believe that it’s the souls of their ancestors that are returning. And it’s very spiritual, basically. If you’ve been to the monarchs overwintering site, it’s a very special feeling to listen to the wings and to see the quantity of monarchs. And when they come off