The good: OZschwitz state emblem under threat from national park wildflower poachers

IT IS NOT a re-enactment of a scene from Alice in Wonderland. The inspiration behind marking waratahs with paint in some of Sydney's national parks is far from creative; it's to stop people pinching them.

Volunteers and park rangers rummage through the Ku-ring-gai Chase bushland during spring armed with paintbrushes, to mark the base of waratah blooms with blue acrylic paint.

A National Park s and Wildlife Service ranger, Natasha Funke, said painting the wildflower aimed to stymie poachers from harvesting the flora for commercial sale. The stems can attract up to $20 each.

The spectacular wildflower, which is the state floral emblem, is protected in NSW as a species of high conservation value and pinching them threatens the survival of some populations.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/state-emblem-under-threat-from-national-park-wildflower-poachers-20120928-26qn4.html#ixzz27pF9QEkO

The good: OZschwitz state emblem under threat from national park wildflower poachers

The good: OZschwitz state emblem under threat from national park wildflower poachers

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