MEXICO CITY — Two environmentalists protecting the Mexican sanctuary of the monarch butterfly were allegedly murdered last week. Activists and civil rights organizations are demanding answers and solutions from the Mexican government.

Homero Gómez was the manager of El Rosario monarch butterfly reserve, a UNESCO world heritage area. He was found dead last Wednesday.

Raúl Hernández, an environmentalist and tour guide from the region, was found murdered on Saturday.

The reserve is located in Michoacán, a state in central-west Mexico that suffers the increase of crime and violence related to drug cartels and illegal logging. 

Organizations like Amnesty International and Greenpeace are asking the Mexican government to solve the crimes and protect environmentalists from being harassed and murdered.

While local authorities say it’s unclear if their deaths are linked or even connected to their labor, the Mexican president says his government will keep working to bring peace and safety.