Scientists documented the moving moment they found the rare Rafflesia hasseltii flower, as Indonesian biologist Spetian Andreiki was moved to tears by the sight of the flower blooming the moment the team arrived.
Dr. Chris Thorogd, an associate professor of biology at Oxford University, spent days and nights in the jungles of Indonesia’s Sumatra in search of this extraordinary flower that only blooms for a few days a year.
In an incredible moment, the team managed to capture the exact instant the flower bloomed after nine months of growth. As Dr. Thorogd began filming, Andrecki broke down in tears upon seeing the rare bloom.
After searching the tiger-patrolled forests of Sumatra for 13 years, biologist Dr Chris Thorogood finally witnessed the rare Rafflesia hasseltii — the “corpse flower” — bloom before his eyes. The huge red flower appears for only a few days after months underground, making… pic.twitter.com/Nvy3tU7LOU
Dr. Thorgod said: "Moments like these are unforgettable... The journey was arduous and the flower was so exceptional that we were deeply moved."
This type of flower is one of the rarest in the world, as the giant parasitic flower lives hidden inside a type of climbing plant, and only appears above ground for a few days each year.
Thorgod added: "It is almost impossible to predict when this flower will open. Buds take nine months to grow, then only open for a few days, but this flower opened its petals right before our eyes, as if it had reserved this moment for us."
This rare type of flower is facing extinction due to the destruction of its natural habitats, prompting Oxford University to announce the creation of the first international working group to preserve this exceptional flower.
