Natural History Wanderings

The BBC reports

The iconic cactus plant is veering into trouble say researchers.

The most serious problem is illegal smuggling.

Despite the international ban on uncontrolled trade in cacti, policing the smuggling faces many problems and semi-professional hunters continue to uproot plants to order, stealing from National Parks, Indian Reservations, but more significantly from the wild.

In southern Spain, the plants are being devastated by the cochineal beetle. But the picture there is mirrored across other regions of the world.

Read full story at Prickly cactus species ‘under threat’ – BBC News