14 DAY TRIAL // Some time ago, several new species of Dracula orchids, among which Dracula terborchii and Dracula trigonopetala, were found in northwestern Ecuador's Chocó region.
Despite their scary-sounding name, these flowers are not vicious blood suckers. Thus, they were only named Dracula orchids because botanist Dr. Carlyle Lue thought them sinister plants whose bloom looked like a face.
Together with other such flowers native to the Andes and Central America, these orchids discovered in northwestern Ecuador risk going extinct in the not too distant future.
Mind you, this is not because garlic has started growing right next to them. It's because deforestation is running rampant in Ecuador. Otherwise put, it's humans that threaten their survival by destroying their natural habitat.
Together with other greenheads, members and supporters of environmental group the Rainforest Trust are now looking to save these orchids by creating a new nature reserve in the area where they were discovered.
The idea is to buy a patch of land and turn it into a protected area. The reserve would essentially be a safe haven for Dracula terborchii, Dracula trigonopetala and many other orchid species.
The thing is that, to establish this nature reserve, the Rainforest Trust needs $58,994 (€47,094). The group has until now managed to raise $32,720 (€26,120), and hopes regular folks will agree to help it meet its goal.
So far, conservationists have managed to buy a patch of land totaling 309 acres. They are now looking to acquire another 343 acres, and create a reserve spanning over 652 acres. They plan to name the protected area the Dracula Orchid Reserve.
Once the nature reserve is created, the Rainforest Trust expects tourism in the region will generate enough income to help protect this area for years to come.
