Data story 05 ยท Timeline

Three countries, three answers

The same butterfly crosses three borders, and each country protects it differently. Mexico protects the winter forests. Canada lists the monarch as endangered. The United States has proposed protection but has not made a final decision.

Two monarch butterflies on a mossy trunk, with more flying in the blue sky behind
Danaus plexippus resting and flying

Read it right

Every chart has limits. Here is what this one can tell you, and what it cannot.

What this shows

  • Key dates since 1980Monarch protection decisions in Mexico, Canada and the United States.
  • The IUCN Red ListA scientific assessment of extinction risk. It is an opinion, not a law.
  • The next US deadlineA final US decision is due by 6 June 2030.

What it does not show

  • Whether protection is workingThe timeline lists decisions, not results.
  • Provincial, state and local lawsOnly national decisions and international listings are shown.
  • Every court case and comment periodOnly the main steps are shown.

Sources. Species at Risk Public Registry (Canada); US Fish and Wildlife Service; Center for Biological Diversity (30 September 2026); Monarch Joint Venture; IUCN; UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Status checked 11 October 2026. The narrated tour is read by an AI voice (OpenAI gpt-audio, via OpenRouter) from the captions you see. See Data and credits. No endorsement implied.