Cuban Explorers Observe Almost-Extinct Cactus

http://www.periodico26.cu/english/offbeat/cactus031606.htm

Cuban Explorers Observe Almost-Extinct Cactus
By Hugo Garcia Fernandez Photos: Adognis Sanchez

• This unique specimen of the Cuban flora can be saved from extinction thanks to the efforts of members of an extreme sports team. They managed to get to the natural habitat of the plant to collect its seeds in order to sow them at the National Botanical Garden.

Matanzas, Cuba — Melocactus antinacacthus is close to becoming a notation in botanical history. It has won notoriety for being in danger of extinction. Specialists assure that there is only one adult species living in a natural environment – in Cuba. The other two that exist in the world are part of collections in botanical gardens in England and France.

In pursuit of the island’s sole plant, members of the “Extreme Club” traveled to a remote region in the central Cuban province of Villa Clara, where they climbed a steep and rocky mountain. The participation of the young sportspeople in the “Conservation of the Melocactus Antinacacthus Project” distinguished the team for their collaboration with the National Botanical Garden in a study that this institution is conducting to protect the curious cactus.

“As it was very difficult to get to the plant’s natural habitat; we were asked for help to take photographs of the plant and collect its seeds,” said engineer Adognis Sanchez.

In the Escambray Mountain Range —at a height of 468 meters, in the central region of the island— the youths climbed a nearly 160-meter-high mountainside. They then went down a gorge for another 100 meters until reaching the Melocactus antinacacthus’s natural home.

The expertise of the Extreme Club was needed to get a close look at the world’s only adult specimen of Melocactus Antinacacthus living in a natural environment.

After having spent several hours overcoming obstacles, Maykel and Adognis were dumbstruck when they eyed the much-sought cactus. They only observed it in silence, as they did not want to disturb the precious vegetal specimen.

“You’re the king of this mountain!” exclaimed Adognis, praising the prickly cactus that clung fast to a huge stone, as if it were battling not to be crossed off the botanical list of living species. “I thought it would be bigger,” said Maykel at last, in a low voice, so as not frighten the plant, which had hardly been visited by a bird, insect, rain, or wind. The adventurers insatiably snapped pictures of the plant from different angles. Then, after several minutes, they decided to gently touch its smooth and beautifully green sides.

Although they caressed it timidly, the curved and sharp thorns pricked both men’s fingers. Therefore, they took the tiny seeds very carefully and painstakingly wrapped them, as they knew their significance for the preservation of the species. Some children, who were members of an environmentalist club in a nearby school, looked up curiously from time to time while played in stream, waiting to see the pictures from the digital camera. At about 3:30 p.m., Maykel and Adognis were running out of time. Remembering that they had to leave the Melocactus antinacacthus they left it in its quite solitude – feeling lumps in their throats.

They would have liked to tell it so many things, as if it were a beloved relative. Nevertheless, two imperceptible voices were barely heard as they fastened the ropes firmly onto their bodies for the return climb; “take care, friend,” they said.