Homero Gómez González was a Mexican environmental activist affectionately called the "Guardian of the Monarchs." He spent his life looking out for the monarch butterfly population in Michoacán. When he went missing in 2020 and was later found dead at 50, it made people wonder just how risky it can be to stand up for the environment in Mexico.
Netflix's documentary The Guardian of the Monarchs, released in May 2024, is a 90-minute film that delves into Gómez's life, activism, and the mysterious murder case. It shines a light on the powerful forces that may have felt threatened by his efforts.
The movie, directed by Emiliano Ruprah, is all about honoring Gómez's legacy and shedding light on the challenges faced by environmental defenders in the country. As more people start watching the documentary, they're getting more interested in learning about this overlooked hero and the events leading up to his death.
Homero Gómez was an environmental activist and monarch butterfly conservationist
Homero Gómez González, a well-known figure in the conservation community, spent his life looking out for the monarch butterflies and their homes in Michoacán, Mexico. Coming from a family involved in logging, Gómez decided in the early 2000s to stop logging because of its harmful environmental effects. This was the start of his path as an environmental advocate.
As the manager of the El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Preserve, Gómez was key in getting the word out about how important it is to protect the monarch butterflies' homes. He didn't stop there though - he also worked with the government to ensure they were doing everything possible to protect the butterflies and even helped boost eco-tourism in the area.
Gómez was really into protecting the environment and the monarch butterflies, which is why people started calling him the "Guardian of the Monarchs." His influence still motivates people all over the world to help save endangered species and their homes.
Homero Gómez's death at age 50 is an unsolved murder case
Homero Gómez's sudden passing at 50 shook up the environmental community. People were shocked when he went missing on January 13, 2020, and then his body was found in a reservoir, making everyone wonder if something fishy was going on. The autopsy showed that Gómez had a head injury before he drowned, suggesting a violent death.
It's thought that his murder was linked to his efforts against illegal logging and crime in Michoacán's forests. Even after looking into it a lot and people speaking out, we still don't know what happened to him. It's pretty unclear how he died.
The fact that we still don't have answers about Gómez's death shows how dangerous it can be for those trying to protect the environment, and how hard it is to keep natural resources safe from criminals.
Homero Gómez's legacy and the Netflix documentary The Guardian of the Monarchs
Homero Gómez will always be remembered as the "Guardian of the Monarchs" for his efforts to conserve and environmental advocacy. His commitment to saving monarch butterflies and their homes keeps motivating people to fight against environmental dangers.
In 2024, Netflix dropped a documentary called The Guardian of the Monarchs, giving us a peek into Gómez's life, activism, and the unsolved story of his vanishing and tragic end. The documentary is a tribute to Gómez's impact and hopes to bring attention to the struggles of environmental defenders like him.
The Guardian of the Monarchs is now on Netflix, and it might surprise folks who aren't familiar with the socio-cultural backdrop of Mexico.