Orchid Cops

No, it’s not a sequel to The Orchid Thief, just some encouraging news that a “Rare British orchid gets police protection from overzealous collectors.” The rare orchid is a Lady Slipper species which still exists in other parts of Europe, but this is the last wild specimen of its kind in Britain. It’s under police protection to prevent irresponsible and selfish orchid collectors from trying to steal it again. Last year, thieves stole part of the plant, but this year, regular police patrols should ensure its safety. Take the legal threat as one of many good reasons why you should never remove an orchid from the wild or cut its flowers.

Of course, orchid conservation doesn’t require a badge. Illinois College students are hoping to return a rare Hawaiian orchid to the wild. Although it’s home to innumerable orchids today, Hawaii’s remoteness meant that only 3 orchid species existed in the islands before humans arrived. Now all 3 native species are seriously endangered, and there are only 36 Platanthera holochila plants remaining in the wild. Hope is coming from an Illinois lab, where hundreds of this species’ seedlings are slowly growing, destined for reintroduction to native habitats in Hawaii. If all goes well, the Illinois College students and their biology professor are hoping to bring the first batch home next March. From colleges to cops, orchids can use everybody’s help in their struggle for survival.

Explore posts in the same categories: Conservation, In the News

Subscribe to the About Orchids Blog:
AddThis Feed Button

Both comments and pings are currently closed.

8 Comments on “Orchid Cops”

  1. LeoJ Says:

    Orchids cops must be a new division of MI5 that I’ve never heard of. Glad to know they’re on the case.

  2. Annie Reese Says:

    Hawaii must have many more native species than that. Orchids are all over there!

  3. Collin Says:

    Thanks for the nice post.

  4. Cathy Oldham Says:

    This post is right, Hawaii only has three native species. We must harder to restore these native species and fight the affects of so many invasive species here in the Islands. Hawaii is the world capital of extinction of endemics, and we need to stop losing so much of our precious native heritage.

    Mahalo (that’s thank you in Hawaiian).

  5. Samuel91 Says:

    Hey, wonderful blog you got here! Keep up the good job!

  6. DH Willis Says:

    Interesting post thanks

  7. nancy Says:

    Thanks for the news post.

  8. AboutOrchids » Blog Archive » Rare Hawaiian Orchids Going Home Says:

    […] Like I blogged last May, this Platanthera species, also known as the Fringed Orchid, is one of the few true island natives, and it’s endangered. […]