A 13-year search for one of the world’s rarest flowers has finally come to a heart-stopping end — and the emotional moment was captured on video. An Indonesian flower hunter broke down in tears after discovering the elusive bloom he had been searching for more than a decade. Septian “Deki” Andrikithat had spent over ten years scouring the rainforest for this extraordinary plant.
His quest ended in Sumatra, Indonesia, where he finally located the Rafflesia hasseltii. It was a major milestone, especially since Andrikithat said he’d been hunting for this exact species for 13 years. Dr. Chris Thorogood, Associate Professor of Biology at Oxford University, joined the expedition and recorded the powerful moment. He told the New York Post that the journey was tough and the flower so rare that the team became “quite emotional about it.”
The video shows Andrikithat dropping to his knees, crying tears of pure joy, while Thorogood consoles him. Later, reflecting on the once-in-a-lifetime discovery, Andrikithat said, “This is very amazing.” Thorogood shared the sentiment, proclaiming, “I’m the luckiest guy alive.”
This flower is rarer than you can imagine
The Rafflesia hasseltii is so rare that Oxford University says it has been “seen more by tigers than people.” To find it, the team trekked “day and night through tiger-patrolled Sumatran rainforests.”
Part of what makes this species unique is how it grows. Rafflesia flowers are entirely parasitic, living their entire life hidden inside a tropical vine and only emerging when it’s time to bloom.
This massive white-spotted flower — reminiscent of a creature from Little Shop of Horrors — remains above ground only briefly. “It takes up to 9 months for the bud to develop, and it only opens for a few days,” Thorogood explained. This blossom opened right before the team’s eyes.
Adding to its strange charm, the flower emits a powerful stench of rotting meat, earning it the nickname “corpse flower.” The foul smell attracts flies that mistake it for a carcass and unintentionally pollinate it.
While Rafflesia hasseltii is impressive, its cousin Rafflesia arnoldii holds the title of world’s largest flower, reaching a massive three feet across.
A species on the brink
Unfortunately, nearly all Rafflesia species are endangered due to habitat destruction. They are extremely difficult to cultivate, making conservation even more challenging. Still, experts are hopeful. Conservation efforts are underway, and improving climate conditions may offer new opportunities to protect threatened species.
Oxford scientists say “urgent action is needed to protect these remarkable flowers” and plan to establish the first-ever Rafflesia conservation working group to share knowledge and techniques globally.
Collaboration across countries will be essential to preserving these astonishing plants — and the rainforests they call home.
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