A team of scientists and volunteers has discovered a large patch of one of Western Australia's rarest carnivorous plants just an hour east of Perth. The Drosera silvicola, a tiny insect-eating plant, was found at the Australian Wildlife Conservancy's Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary along the Avon River.
The discovery came at the end of a nearly two-day search when the team took a detour. Curtin University PhD student Thilo Krueger spotted the plant from a car window, prompting an excited reaction. The species had not been seen in the area for over 30 years.
Only a few centimeters in size, the plant captures and digests tiny insects using leaves covered with sticky tentacles. It is classified as a priority one species by the WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, meaning it is extremely rare and potentially threatened, requiring urgent conservation assessment.
Prior to this find, only two other populations were known, both on mine sites. Regional ecologist Amanda Bourne called the discovery a huge win for conservation, highlighting the importance of wildlife sanctuaries like Paruna in preserving Australia's unique biodiversity.
The South West region is the world's center of diversity for carnivorous plants, with over 150 species recorded. Many occur only in small areas, making them vulnerable to habitat loss and climate change.
