Thieves have stolen or destroyed up to 900 of Western Australia's rarest orchids in a devastating blow for botanists who have spent years cultivating them.
The orchids, which are teetering on the brink of extinction, were taken from a conservation garden in Perth's Kings Park and Botanic Garden where members of the public can observe rare plant species.
The majority of the 400 Carbunup king spider orchids and 500 collie spider orchids that were in the garden were removed or destroyed. Botanists are reeling given how rare they are in the wild.
They are found only in a very restricted part of Western Australia, with global population estimates of 280 for the Carbunup king spider orchid and 900 for the collie spider orchid.
It's feared the loss of the display plantings, which were the result of four years of hard work, could increase visitation pressures on the few specimens left in the wild.
"These plants were the public face of a much larger translocation and conservation effort to ensure our iconic orchid flora can be bought back from the brink of extinction in the wild," says Dr Belinda Davis, an orchid expert with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
Authorities say threatened orchids are targets for poachers but stolen specimens, especially those taken from the wild, rarely survive.
Kings Park director Sue McDougall says Kings Park has always been easily accessible. She did not immediately comment on what additional security measures might be necessary in the future.
If the thieves are caught they could face heavy penalties.
Any person who illegally takes threatened species can be fined up to $500,000.
