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by Mike Loranca, Herping Mexico (www.herping.mx), Mexico
email: delatorreloranca@gmail.com
It’s admirable to say you work in conservation—but not everywhere, and not for
everyone. In many Third World regions, openly defending nature puts you in direct
conflict with people whose survival depends on cutting firewood, hunting for food, or
collecting wildlife. Opposing these practices can create fierce enemies. Tragically,
this reality is unfolding across Latin America, particularly in Mexico, where several
conservationists have been permanently silenced in recent years.
Now we face a heartbreaking case: our dear colleague Miguel Loranca has been
missing since November 21, 2025, with no information about his whereabouts. His
family has received no communication, and while hope remains, the worst is feared.
Miguel has spent years working in a true hotspot—rich in biodiversity and danger—
in Veracruz, Mexico. He helped reveal its natural treasures, described charismatic
species like the viper Cerrophidion petlalcalensis, and even has a species, Geophis
lorancai, named in his honor. I visited him just months ago, and we confirmed his site
is likely among the most herp-diverse places on Earth—a project that must continue
