A Rare Erica cunoniensis species, feared to be extinct back in 2012, was rediscovered by conservationists at the Kogelberg Nature Reserve.
CapeNature staff, in partnership with members of the Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW), were counting threatened flora on the Buffelstalberg in the Kogelberg Nature Reserve, when they stumbled upon eight Erica cunoniensis plants.
Kogelberg has about 1,800 plant species, of which 150 are only found in the reserve.
Sylvia Wolita, a Pupil Field Ranger at Kogelberg, made the pivotal first sighting of the beauty.
“Finding a rare plant species is a reminder that nature is both fragile and resilient. The dedication of our field staff and partners helps us to achieve our mandate as custodians of the Western Cape’s incredible floral diversity” said Wolita.
That region of the Western Cape, is a biodiversity hotspot containing 13,489 recorded plant species, of which 6,776 (50.2%) are endemic to the province.
Cairestine Lottring, CapeNature Field Ranger who was part of the monitoring team, said “by combining expertise, curiosity, and commitment, we’re able to make meaningful contributions to biodiversity knowledge and ensure that even the rarest species are not forgotten.”
Picture: CapeNature’s Takalani Makhomu and Cairestine Lottring share their excitement over the discovery.