03/11/2005
- After flying for 72 days — a total of 84 hours — an ultralight
plane, dubbed the Papalotzin, has successfully ended its
journey after following the Monarch butterfly migration
route.
The journey, which started in Canada on 22 August and crossed
the United States and Mexico, received enthusiastic support
from scientists, Monarch butterfly experts, students and
academic institutions, as well as government representatives.
“During the journey we reached thousands of people to talk
about the importance of Monarch butterfly conservation and
protection to its habitat," said Vico Gutierrez, pilot
and creator of the Papalotzin project, which is supported
by the WWF-Telcel Alliance and the local Mexican government
of Michoacan. "Understanding
the cycle of migration and challenges of this small butterfly,
which has the ability of fly over 3,000 miles, gives us
a unique message: we can, and should learn to confront
the diverse challenges of life.”
"During the journey we had the
opportunity to observe the butterflies flying with the
air currents at different altitudes — some even reached
12,000 feet."
After the 3,000-mile flight, the Papalotzin finally landed
at Llano de las Papas in Angangeo, Michoacan, one of the
Monarch hibernation sanctuaries in Central Mexico.
The Papalotzin team was welcomed in
a ceremony — marked by an ancient ritual and dance — together
with hundreds of villagers.
Attending the ceremony were Michoacan
Governor Lazaro Cardenas Batel and Mexican State Governor
Enrique Peña Nieto, as well as WWF-Mexico Director
Omar Vidal, Telcel Corporate Marketing Director Marcela
Velasco, USAID Director Edward Kadunk, Angangueo Municipal
President Tomas Martinez, and others.
“This has been a valuable and unique experience,"
said Gutierrez. "We interviewed many scientists who
provided us with valuable information, and we talked to
artists and students, and gave around 30 press conferences."
The Papalotzin team also filmed 150 hours of material
from interviews with experts to butterfly gardens, zoos,
schools, forests, fields, lakes, cities and industrial
areas that the Monarch butterflies crossed during their
migration route. With all this material and thousands
of aerial and terrestrial photographs, the Papalotzin
project is planning to produce a one-hour documentary
about the life, route and challenges that the Monarch
butterflies face.
The ultralight plane, flying at an average of 60 to 70
miles per hour, landed in more than 40 locations in the
three countries. Some 12,000 people visited the interactive
website (www.papalotzin.com) which described every day
activities and challenges.
“From this experience onwards I feel that the butterflies
are part of my life," Gutierrez said.
"We also learned that there are many people interested
in the conservation of our planet, not only willing to
protect the Monarch butterfly, but also the forest, desserts,
oceans, rivers, plants and animals."
END NOTES:
• Francisco “Vico” Gutierrez is a
is a Free Flight and Ultralight instructor in Valle de
Bravo, Mexico. He started flying when he was only 13 years
old and his experience of more than 30 years has taken
him throughout Mexico. Vico makes films regularly from
his ultralight plane for commercials, documentaries and
movies. Living in Valle de Bravo, so close to the Monarch
butterfly colonies combined with his love of flying and
adventure, secured Vico's commitment to the efforts in
the conservation of the remarkable migratory phenomenon
of the Monarch.
• WWF and Telcel signed an agreement for the conservation
and sustainable management of the natural resources in
Mexico. The WWF-Telcel Alliance is supporting, among other
issues, monitoring of forest cover in the Monarch Butterfly
Biosphere Reserve, research and local community participation,
promoting the importance of conserving the forest, and
environmental education activities and publications. |
