Capturing the "Explosion of Monarchs": A Glimpse Inside Mexico's Oyamel Fir Forests

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by Andrew Shelepnytsky Contributor
September 16, 2026
Capturing the

MICHOACÁN, Mexico — In the oyamel fir forests of Michoacán, thousands of monarch butterflies gather near streams to drink water and absorb minerals from the wet soil, a natural behavior known as puddling.

Photographer Jaime Rojo captured this phenomenon in his image titled Explosion of Monarchs. The work earned the category win for "Into the Forest" in the Environmental Photography Award 2024, an initiative organized by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. The image reveals how closely the monarchs' presence is tied to the delicate moisture balance of the forest, a habitat increasingly affected by climate change and the expansion of avocado plantations around the reserve.

Photo Credit:  Jaime Rojo, Mexico, 2022

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Andrew Shelepnytsky

Contributor

Andrew Shelepnytsky is the Vice President of International Business Development at The Monegasque™ Magazine, where he spearheads global partnerships. He serves as the host of The Monegasque™ Podcast and is a Partner at FC Barbagiuans, the football club of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco. A dedicated Ambassador for Peace for the Universal Peace Federation. Andrew serves as a contributing writer for Monaco Voice.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MonacoVoice™

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