​Mexico City, Nov 17 (IANS) Monarch butterfly hibernation sanctuaries, located in Mexico and Michoacan, will remain open for tourists from November 23, 2016 to March 31, 2017, an wildlife official said.

The Mexican Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) announced this on Wednesday, reported Efe news agency.

The monarch butterfly, characterised by its large distinctive orange, black and white patterned wings, migrates every fall covering 4,200 km from Canada and the US to spend the winter here.

Their arrival was observed in the last two weeks as thousands of Monarchs flew in the skies of the Mexican states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosi, Queretaro and Guanajuato.

CONANP called on citizens to participate in the campaign "Lets Protect the Monarchs". 

In August, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reported that there was a 40 per cent decline in illegal logging in the Monarch's main habitats here.