Botanical Garden closes sections after multiple rare plant thefts

The Botanical Garden in Oslo, Norway, has closed its greenhouses to the public following a series of rare plant thefts. The Natural History Museum, part of the University of Oslo, made the decision after another rare plant was discovered missing on Friday morning.

The latest incident involved the theft of a Pachypodium succulentum, a slow-growing succulent acquired 18 years ago through an exchange with a German botanical garden. The plant, which is also subject to illegal trade in the wild and requires a CITES permit for export, was taken from the Desert Room in the Palm House. Only an empty spot and the plant's label remained.

This marks the third theft of rare and endangered plants from the greenhouses in recent weeks. Security footage reportedly shows the thief acting with clear intent, suggesting they knew exactly what they were targeting. The Palm House and the Victoria House will remain closed for a period while security routines are reviewed and measures are assessed to prevent further thefts and protect the valuable plant collections.

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it is clear that the thief knew what he was looking for.