Jaime Rojo

16/01/2026

After two years working across the U.S.–Mexico borderlands, my story “The Mission to Keep the Borderlands Wild” is finally out. You’ll find the link in my bio, and the print version will be published in the February 2026 issue of National Geographic. This project was only possible thanks to the support of the Meridian program, which allowed .marin and me to take on this project at the scale it deserved, offering a different perspective on a region that is too often overlooked.

I fell in love with the rugged terrain of the U.S.–Mexico borderlands more than 20 years ago. What started as a dream project became much closer to reality when I first met .marin over a decade ago. The years of fieldwork together will be unforgettable. Gracias, Ganesh.

The idea behind this story was simple: to understand how wildlife moves through a landscape increasingly fragmented by the border wall and other human-made infrastructure, and how a group of conservationists on both sides of the border is doing the impossible work of keeping this region wild.

The borderlands wouldn’t be the same without the people and organizations working every day to protect them: and its founder, and one of my conservation heroes, Valer Clark; , the Tohono O’odham Nation, , , for aerial support, and many others on both sides of the border.

Thanks to the entire team at , especially my editor for making the work fun despite the challenges; to for his thoughtful work; and to and for believing in this project. Big thanks as well to and for the unthinkable gear assistance with camera traps and more. And to the amazing video and social team. Looking forward to the next project.

09/12/2025

Pictures of the Year 2025? Conservation photography? Camera trapping in the US Mexico borderlands?… Monarchs?

Prepare your questions because tomorrow you can Ask Me Anything (about wildlife photography!!) on my first ever AMA hosted by .

30/10/2025

A short behind-the-scenes look at how I captured the images of birds feeding on Monarch butterflies, produced by the amazing video and social team at . It took more than 20 days of waking up before dawn, waiting in the cold grey light of morning, and a formidable collection of blurry shots until finally…I got it! Big thanks to ganeshmarin and .antonio.rojas for the BTS videos.

Shot for with support from

Nikon Z9 + Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S from . Swarovski NL Pure 10x42 from 


14/10/2025

After my last video, many of you asked how some birds can eat Monarch butterflies.

Monarchs store toxic compounds called cardenolides from the milkweed they eat as caterpillars, which make them poisonous to most predators. But in the wintering sanctuaries of Mexico, a few birds—mostly grosbeaks, tanagers, and orioles—have evolved adaptations that allow them to tolerate or avoid these toxins.

Photo 1: A Scott’s Oriole feeds selectively on the abdomen, where toxins are less concentrated.

Photo 2: A Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a migratory species less common in these mountains, feeds on Monarchs during its passage through the region.

Photo 3: A pair of Black-headed Grosbeaks feeds on Monarch butterflies in the early morning. They can tolerate moderate levels of the toxin and are among the main Monarch predators.

Birds account for most of the natural predation on Monarchs, with mice—and occasionally squirrels—making up the rest. It is an extraordinary example of adaptation and coevolution in the Monarchs’ overwintering colonies.

Shot for with support from in 2023
Nikon Z9 + Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S

26/09/2025

Two monarch butterfly caterpillars rest on a balloon milkweed (Gomphocarpus fructicosus) at the Sendero Mariposa Monarca in Castellar de la Plana, in Cádiz, Spain.
I was recently in southern Spain and the Strait of Gibraltar looking for monarch butterflies. There is a small, resident colony here that has established thanks to two exotic plants: the South African balloon milkweed, and the American tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica), the popular garden plant that, as many of you know, has been the center of some controversy in the Americas.

This population is interesting because, in a country without native milkweeds, it likely could not have settled without these introduced species. I have mixed feelings about that, but after so many years living outside of Spain, it was still fun to go searching for a species I know so well.

It was also great to reconnect with my friend after all these years. Gracias Ezequiel!

Shot with Nikon Z9 + Nikkor 35mm f/1.8

14/12/2024

Thousands of monarch butterflies fill the skies of El Rosario Sanctuary in Michoacán, Mexico—a breathtaking reminder of this species’ resilience. There was much anticipation about this week’s decision on listing monarchs under the Endangered Species Act, but I believe the real challenge is much greater. The question is whether we can collectively achieve a systemic change in our society to align with the ecological processes that have shaped life on Earth for centuries. Protecting monarchs—and, in turn, every other species on this planet—isn’t just about a listing; it’s about rethinking our relationship with the natural world. Shot on assignment for and

16/10/2024

Monarch butterflies on the branches of an oyamel fir in El Rosario Sanctuary, Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Michoacán. In all these years photographing Monarchs, I’ve never seen a branch with such incredible texture and pattern—completely covered, a living tapestry. Thanks to and for supporting my work

05/06/2024

I am thrilled to announce that my image “Explosion of Monarchs” has won the “Into the Forest” category in the 2024 Environmental Photography Awards .photoaward hosted by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation

Congratulations to the well deserved overall winner for his powerful and moving work, and to all the other category winners, including , .faciole, , and Daniel Valverde, as well as the runner-ups. I want to express my gratitude to the jury members , , , , .jaschinski.photography, , and contest chairman for their invaluable contributions. They had to review 11,000 photos for this year’s edition! It was great to hang out with some of you in Monaco.

The 2024 images will be part of an exhibition in Monaco, showcased outdoors on the Promenade du Larvotto from June 5 to July 30

Thanks to and for supporting my work with the Monarch Butterflies and a special shootout to my editor for her insistence with this image in particular!

21/05/2024

https://efeverde.com/jaime-rojo-desconectarse-naturaleza-suicidio-social/

El fotógrafo Jaime Rojo ha ganado su segundo World Press Photo por su trabajo de portada en National Geographic sobre la mariposa monarca