Assessor: Brenda Daly
According to the SANBI and IUCN Red List Assessments, this species is Critically Endangered as it is known from one location that is experiencing ongoing population decline due to collection of wild individuals for the illegal succulent horticultural trade as well as from anthropogenic climate change and is on the brink of extinction (Young et al. 2020; Young 2022). This species is known to be heavily sought after by succulent collectors (Young & Raimondo, 2020). As of 2019, this genus has become popular in trade and there is a high demand from international and domestic horticultural markets for wild collected plants as indicated by media, police reports and several online marketplace, e-commerce, and auction sites (Friedman, 2021; Tshuma, 2021; Trenchard, 2021; Hyman, 2020; Young, 2020). Plants of this genus were among those targeted and confiscated during recent criminal prosecutions of illegal plant collecting (Majikela, 2020; Myburgh, 2021). There has been recorded confiscations of the species from poaching (Confiscation Lists (2019-2021) provided by SANBI Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, Cape Nature, SANBI Karoo Desert Botanic Garden, SANParks Sendelingsdrift Botanic Garden and Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment). This suggests that this genus is being targeted and this species is threatened.
Friedman, B. 2021. 24 May 2021. South Africa targeted for rare plant poaching placing biodiversity at risk. Cape Talk. Available at: https://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/417213/south-africa-targeted-for-rare-plant-poaching-placing-biodiversity-at-risk
Hyman, A. 2020. 1 February 2020. Koreans fined R5m as poachers target SA's succulent treasure chest. Times Live. Available at: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-02-01-koreans-fined-r5m-as-poachers-target-sas-succulent-treasure-chest/
Majikela, M. 2020. 31 January 2020. Hefty sentencing for possession of Conophytum plants. Media Statement. South African Police Service Office of the Provincial Commissioner Western Cape. Available at: https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroommsspeechdetail.php?nid=24491
Myburgh, A. 2021. 20 January 2021. Man behind bars for possession of endangered plants (Conophytum). Media Statement South African Police Service, Office of the Provincial Commissioner North West. Available at: https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=24491
Trenchard, T. 2021. 31 July 2021. In South Africa, Poachers Now Traffic in Tiny Succulent Plants. The New York Times. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/31/world/africa/south-africa-poachers-tiny-succulent-plants.html
Tshuma, N. 2021. 20 May 2021. Collectors drive a spike in theft of indigenous plants in the Western Cape. IOL. Available at: https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/news/collectors-drive-a-spike-in-theft-of-indigenous-plants-in-the-western-cape-e120f529-741b-43a7-8454-cb8f69544878
Young, A.J. 2020. Conophytum armianum S.A.Hammer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
Young, A.J. & Raimondo, D. 2020. Conophytum calculus (A.Berger) N.E.Br. subsp. vanzylii (Lavis) S.A.Hammer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
Young, A.J., Victor, J.E. & Desmet, P.G. 2020. Conophytum bachelorum S.A.Hammer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
Young, A. 2022. (assessment in prep 2022) Conophytum bachelorum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
This taxon occurs at a single location whereby 90% of its population has been removed illegally in 2021 (Young 2022). Approximately 100 plants remain in habitat compared to a previous estimate of 500-1000 mature individuals (Young 2022).
Young, A. 2022. (assessment in prep 2022) Conophytum bachelorum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
This has become one of the most desirable species for collection in recent years, with high prices being paid for plants. Cultivated plants cannot match the current demand across the globe for this species. The illegal collection is currently taking place and is a major extinction threat to the small, localized, population of plants(Young et al. 2020).
Young, A.J., Victor, J.E. & Desmet, P.G. 2020. Conophytum bachelorum S.A.Hammer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. Accessed on 2021/03/12. Available: http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=115-414.
One known location with existing threat of over-exploitation and removal of wild individuals causing population decline (Young et al. 2020) has placed the persistence of this species at risk. Recruitment and recovery may not be possible.
Young, A.J., Victor, J.E. & Desmet, P.G. 2020. Conophytum bachelorum S.A.Hammer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.