Drought wiped out Bogong moths; wet years bring the migration back
Bogong moths have returned after wet years reversed a devastating 2017 to 2020 drought.
Bogong moths migrate south from Queensland and NSW breeding grounds to the Australian Alps each spring, a journey they have made for thousands of years. The ancient pattern stopped suddenly in 2017 when a severe drought caused serious concern for their future.
Recent wet years have reversed the decline. Vast swarms now return to the same mountain caves, Namadgi, Kosciuszko, and the Victorian Alps, where generations before them sheltered.
Only the moths navigate by starlight alone, each individual making the journey only once. Inside caves, they pile at densities above 15,000 per square metre, creating walls of wings.
- 2017 to 2020
- Drought period
- Namadgi, Kosciuszko, Victorian Alps
- Mountain shelters
- Over 15,000 per square metre
- Cave density
- Each moth travels once in lifetime
- Migration frequency
Why it mattersThe Bogong recovery shows how rainfall can rebuild wildlife populations devastated by drought, offering hope for species facing climate shifts.
AustraliaThe moths have returned to Canberra and the Australian Alps, a visible sign of improved rainfall in drought-affected regions and renewed biodiversity.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
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