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Rare Rafflesia Flower Blooms After Long Search in Indonesia

11/25/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Dr. Chris Thorogood, a biologist from the University of Oxford, discovered the rare Rafflesia hasseltii in West Sumatra, Indonesia.
After a nine-month wait, the flower bloomed, prompting tears from Septian Andriki (local conservationist).
The team included Iwan Iswandi and Septian Andriki and undertook a challenging trek to locate the flower.
Rafflesia species face extinction risk, with 60% of them at severe risk.

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Story summary

Dr. Chris Thorogood, a biologist from the University of Oxford, discovered the rare Rafflesia hasseltii in West Sumatra, Indonesia.
After a nine-month wait, the flower bloomed, prompting tears from Septian Andriki (local conservationist).
The team included Iwan Iswandi and Septian Andriki and undertook a challenging trek to locate the flower.
Rafflesia species face extinction risk, with 60% of them at severe risk.