Second Mexico monarch butterfly activist murdered
3 February 2020 (BBC News) – A second activist campaigning for the conservation of monarch butterflies and the woods in which they hibernate has been found dead in Mexico.
Raúl Hernández worked as a tour guide at a butterfly sanctuary in Michoacán state.
His body, which bore signs of beatings and a head injury, was found two days after the funeral of Homero Gómez.
Mr Gómez managed a monarch butterfly sanctuary in the same state and had received threats, his family said.
Raúl Hernández, 44, disappeared on Monday 27 January 2020. He had left work as usual and was last seen at midday in a village called El Oyamel.
His body was found six days later at the top of a hill in the El Campanario monarch butterfly sanctuary. Forensic experts said his body was covered in bruises and he had a deep wound to his head. An investigation into his death is under way.
Conservationists fear his death may be linked to that of Homero Gómez, who disappeared in the same area on 13 January 2020.
Mr Gómez’s body was found in a well on 29 January 2020. His family said that prior to his disappearance, the activist had received threats warning him to stop his campaign against illegal logging. [more]
