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In harmony we grow | Searching for Paphiopedilum Purpuratum

In recent years, the staff of the Orchid Conservation & Research Center of Shenzhen have launched a project to reintroduce a kind of rare and endangered species of orchid named paphiopedilum purpuratum to the wild. They collected some of the paphiopedilum purpuratum plants in the wild and returned them to the Center for relocation and conservation, using artificial pollination to produce a large number of seeds.

So far, more than 14,000 seedlings of paphiopedilum purpuratum have been bred. The staff have reintroduced more than 9,000 plants in batches to Wutong Mountain, Sanzhou Tian and Yinhu Mountain, restructured 17 wild populations, which cover about 20,000 square meters of natural habitat in the wild.

The paphiopedilum purpuratum orchid, hailed as the “giant panda” among plants, is a national first-class protected plant. Due to its high ornamental value, it’s over-harvested by people driven by profit. In addition, the paphiopedilum purpuratum grows in acidic soil, so it is highly susceptible to the influence of its habitat. Therefore, the wild population has become scarce, distributed in only a few countries and regions such as Vietnam, China’s Guangdong, Hong Kong, Guangxi and Yunnan. It was once on the verge of extinction with less than 2,500 plants alive worldwide. Without effective protection, this species is prone to extinction.


Planning: Zhang Junhua, Tan Shilong

Producer: Luo Yanjun, Wang Xiyong, Cao Si

Coordinator: Zeng Qiang,Zheng Jiaxin, Zhang Youqiong, Huang Yinglai, Wang Liangjue

Director: Xiao Xiong

Video Shooting: Xiao Xiong, Yao Jiashuo(intern)

Video Editor:  Alice, Yao Jiashuo (intern), Nancy(intern)

Editor: Olivia, Monica, Jerry

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