Karel Du Toit: Plant Poaching in Namaqualand

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Karel Du Toit: Illegal Poaching of Succulents in Namaqualand


Karel Du Toit with Pachypodium namaquanum

I just watched a Zoom talk on plant (and reptile) poaching in Namaqualand, Republic of South Africa. It was shocking. The talk was presented by The Cactus and Succulent Society of America (CSSA.) It will be available on the CSSA Facebook page within a few hours today, Saturday July 10; it will remain available until sometime Monday morning July 12, Pacific Daylight Saving time, UTC -7.

The same sort of thing goes on in the orchid world, so many of you might find it interesting to watch the talk.

Karel is a wildlife protection officer in Namaqualand. He showed screen captures of texts, and WhatsApp videos, of how buyers and poachers communicate in real time from habitat, with savvy buyers directing inexperienced poachers exactly to the spots plants grow.

Following was a detailed discussion of some aspects of poaching and restoration: Why are plants poached? What is done with the plants when poachers are arrested? Why can't poached plants be re-established in habitat? How can the poaching problem be addressed? Do wildlife officers have adequate resources? What should people do when they are contacted by sellers of known poached plants?

[yug]

Why are they poached??? For $$$ of course. They do it for succulents in the deserts of the U.S. too from what I understand.