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The netizens were reacting to the arrest of five men caught harvesting the endangered 424 Clavias marebelius plants in Nieuwoudtville, Northern Cape. The SAPS reportedly pounced on the unsuspecting culprits on 27 June 2024 after receiving information about the alleged plant poaching. The men, aged between 21 and 30, had allegedly harvested about R2.7 million worth of the protected plant.

The recent discovery of poaching at a restoration site has stunned the conservation community, leaving it in a state of disbelief and anger. This viral TikTok video showcases a conservationist's dismay as he uncovers the theft of valuable plants. "This beach restoration site in the Bay Area used to be all invasive ice plant, and it should be covered in native succulent flowers. But people are poaching the Dudleya and picking their flowers for profit," Dickson explains in the video caption.

A wildlife warden on Wednesday raised alarm over the increase in poaching and the cutting down of trees at the Badingilo National Park. Speaking to reporters at the park, acting Warden, Maj. Butrus Simon, said the killing of the wildlife and deforestation have been exacerbated by the economic hardship in the country. "The poaching activities inside the park are due to the current situation. You will find that many poachers kill the animals and cut the trees," Simon said.

In early May, the environment ministry's forestry directorate raided farms in the Kunene Region where protected mopane trees are being harvested and exported for charcoal and firewood. Trucks carrying loads of wood and charcoal - without permits to do so - have already been seized, the directorate confirmed. An outraged charcoal producer in the Outjo district, who preferred to remain anonymous, claimed a forestry official threatened him and demanded a bribe from him to not stop his charcoal business.

As two collectors walk down the South Korean nursery's humid aisles, they spot a magnificent specimen. Having collected South African succulents for over two decades, their greenhouse showcases many plants growing in what looks like their natural Succulent Karoo habitat. But they have never seen this species before, and judging from its size, the plant looks decades old. The nursery owner tells them the succulent is a new mother plant used for cultivation and is not for sale. But if they wanted an equally large plant, he could connect them to his broker.

In recent years, succulent collecting has become a treasured pastime. These low-maintenance plants bring a lot of joy and camaraderie to those who collect, propagate, and share their passion. However, there’s a dark side to this seemingly harmless hobby. Illegal succulent poaching has become pervasive with the rise in succulent popularity. In this article, we’ll talk about the dark side of plant collecting, how plant poaching is changing legal and ecological landscapes, and how to be a conscientious and ethical collector.

A 42-year-old man has been sentenced to a decade behind bars at the Kuruman Regional Court after being nabbed with 2 850 endangered and protected plants worth more than R9 million. 

Protea poaching on the slopes of Table Mountain remains a concern and local authorities are calling on the public to report perpetrators. There has been a slight increase in the number of protea poaching incidents in the Vredehoek area this year compared to previous years. The Table Mountain National Park has partnered with the Devil's Peak Vredehoek Watch Group, police and various safety structures to conduct patrols to curb flora poaching and other illegal activities.