Reaching out of nooks in the cracked crust along the desert’s coast, there lie thousands of Copiapoa cacti. A cactus group made up of more than 30 species, Copiapoa are found only in Chile. They grow a mere centimetre each year in scorching, breathtaking desert conditions by absorbing the local evening fog, known as camanchaca.
These rare, aubergine-shaped succulents exemplify life’s ability to adapt to extremes – one of the traits that has made them highly sought after by plant collectors.
They’ve also just been at the heart of a landmark trial over an international cactus heist that might revolutionise how biodiversity crimes are dealt with the world over.
Operation Atacama: The $1m cactus heist that led to a smuggler’s downfall - BBC
