EThey looked like little monkeys emerging from the fog. Known to scientists as Dracula, this “monkey-faced orchid” has become an internet celebrity. Millions of people have shared their photos, mesmerized by the flowers appearing to alternately smile, frown or grimace. But behind this viral charm lies a much darker reality: most of these species are currently on the verge of extinction.
A new global assessment has, for the first time, revealed the conservation status of all known Dracula orchids. The findings are worrying: of the 133 species studied, nearly 7 out of 10 species are threatened with extinction.
Rare and charismatic plant
Many survive in only small patches of forest, sometimes in just one or two locations. There are also those that are only known through cultivated plants. Their wild populations may be extinct. This orchid grows primarily in the Andean cloud forests of Colombia and Ecuador, which are one of the most biodiverse but also most threatened ecosystems on the planet. Their survival depends on the cool, moist conditions at mid to high altitudes, where mist constantly blankets the trees.
Unfortunately, these same slopes are now being rapidly cleared to make way for livestock grazing, crops such as avocados, as well as road expansion and mining projects, activities that directly threaten several Dracula species (such as Dracula). Dracula terborchii). As forests shrink and fragment, these orchids lose the microclimates – namely the temperature, light and humidity conditions – on which their survival depends.
Another danger comes from the attraction exerted by this rare and charismatic plant. Orchids have been prized for their flowers for centuries. European trade began in the 19th centurye last century, when “orchid fever” struck wealthy collectors and led to a collection boom in the tropics.
Today, this fascination continues, fueled by the Internet. Many enthusiasts and professional growers trade in responsibly grown plants, but there are still those who seek out wild orchids – including Dracula species. For plants whose populations sometimes number only a few dozen individuals, a single collecting expedition can spell disaster.
Sepals are long fangs
In the northwestern Ecuadorian Andes, an area called “Reserva Drácula” is home to one of the highest concentrations of orchids in the world. The reserve is home to at least ten species of Dracula, including five species found nowhere else on Earth. But the threat is getting closer. Agriculture-related deforestation, illegal mining, and even the presence of armed groups now put reserve staff and surrounding communities at risk.
Local environmental advocates from Fundación EcoMinga, which manages the area, described the situation as “urgent”. Among their proposals are increased community monitoring, support for sustainable agriculture and the development of ecotourism, to generate income through the protection – not destruction – of forests.When you observe these flowers closely, it is easy to understand the appeal they provide. Their name, Dracula, does not refer to the vampire character but is derived from the Latin “little dragon”, due to the long fang-shaped sepals, structures that resemble petals and protect the developing flower. Their strange appearance shocked 19th century botanists.e century, who initially believed it was a hoax. Later, as new species were discovered, many looked like small primates, hence their nickname “monkey face orchids.” They are sometimes compared to the pandas of the orchid world: charismatic, easy to spot, but also critically endangered.
Proposal to preserve the Dracula orchid
The new assessment was carried out by a team of botanists from Colombia and Ecuador, in collaboration with several international organizations, including the University of Oxford and the Orchid Specialist Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission. This ultimately fills an important gap.
It relies on herbarium data (dried plant samples collected by botanists), field observations and local expertise, to map each species’ range and estimate the state of remaining forests. The results confirm what many specialists have long suspected: The Dracula species is in grave danger.
Despite these grim observations, there is still reason for hope. Reserva Drácula and other protected areas provide important refuge, providing refuge not only for orchids but also frogs, monkeys and many other species. Local organizations work with communities to promote sustainable agriculture, develop ecotourism, and reward conservation efforts through payments for ecosystem services. These initiatives are simple considering the enormity of the challenges faced, but prove that solutions exist, provided the world is interested in them.
There is also an opportunity to turn this popularity into patronage. The online fame that drives demand for these orchids could also help fund their conservation. If viral publications about the “smiling flower” are accompanied by information about its origins and the threats it faces, this could help change behavior and remind people of the need to avoid overharvesting.
To find
Kangaroo today
Answer
Just as the panda is a symbol of wildlife protection, the monkey face orchid can also be an embodiment of plant conservation, and a reminder that biodiversity is not just limited to animals. Whether future generations will still be able to see these faces in the forest – and not just in the news media – depends on our actions.
* Diogo Veríssimo, Conservation Marketing Researcher, University of Oxford; Amy Hinsley, Senior Research Fellow, Oxford Martin Program on Wildlife Trade, University of Oxford; Luis Baquero, Researcher, Orchid Ecology, Universidad de las Américas (Ecuador).
