How to Prevent Cactus Theft
Yuri, currently at the Department of Zoology, University of Otago in New Zealand, sends along this interesting story from the Los Angeles Times.
Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times
PALM DESERT
Over the last six months, there has been an epidemic of thefts. Officials say they have lost nearly $20,000 worth of the plants. The main target is the golden barrel, which, depending on its size, can fetch anywhere from $100 to $800 each.
The problem is so bad that surveillance cameras have gone up near large concentrations of cactuses in urban landscaping, and authorities expect to implant microchips into the barrels soon to track their whereabouts.
Now that’s a lot of microchips for a desert community. We microchipped Benjamin.
