You're listening to TED Talks Daily, where we bring you new ideas to spark your curiosity every day.

I'm your host, Elise Hume. Every year around this time, something really special happens.

Millions of monarch butterflies migrate over thousands of miles north to breed and return to the warmth in the northern hemisphere.

And when they travel, they produce one of the most iconic wildlife spectacles in the world,

all while providing us with an important indicator of ecological help.

I know for sure that if there is one iconic species in North America, this is the monarch.

We are living in very polarized times, and the story of the monarchs can inspire hope again,

can bring unity across our borders. We need that.

That was photographer Jaime Rojo from his 2024 talk, which we are resharing today in honor of

the monarchs on their journey. He shares his experience photographing these mesmerizing insects

deep in their remote mountain habitats in Mexico, dives into the latest research into the mysteries

of this migration, and shares how each of us can join the growing

movement to protect them. So I have to ask you that don't let this beautiful illusion of plenty

fool you because the monarch are in serious trouble. But there's also good news. There's

many people trying to protect them. That's coming up right after a short break.

And now our TED Talk of the Day.

Few insects have captured our imagination like the monarch butterfly.

Their migration is one of the most iconic wildlife spectacles in North America,

but they are also one of the best environmental indicators we have

of the health of our ecosystems.

And they have been in decline for the last 40 years.

So they might be telling us a bigger story,

...