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| Melbourne vandals decapitate cacti | Melbourne vandals decapitate cacti |
| (4 months later) | |
| Security at Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens is to be stepped up after vandals broke into the gardens and decapitated rare cacti, some of which were 30 years old. | Security at Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens is to be stepped up after vandals broke into the gardens and decapitated rare cacti, some of which were 30 years old. |
| Tim Entwisle, chief executive of the gardens, told Guardian Australia that the attack took place on Tuesday night, after the sprawling green space was closed off to visitors. | Tim Entwisle, chief executive of the gardens, told Guardian Australia that the attack took place on Tuesday night, after the sprawling green space was closed off to visitors. |
| Around 80% of the cacti and succulents in the Arid Garden were hacked to pieces with machetes or knives. Species from the US and Africa, such as Echinocactus and Euphorbias, were among those to be destroyed. | Around 80% of the cacti and succulents in the Arid Garden were hacked to pieces with machetes or knives. Species from the US and Africa, such as Echinocactus and Euphorbias, were among those to be destroyed. |
| “We’ve lost a landscape that has taken 30 years to create,” Entwisle said. “We lock the gates at night, but it’s very hard to stop someone who is that determined. | “We’ve lost a landscape that has taken 30 years to create,” Entwisle said. “We lock the gates at night, but it’s very hard to stop someone who is that determined. |
| “The whole appeal of the gardens is that they are open and accessible, but we will have to look at something to make it more secure. We will look at security and we may have to look at whether we actually put valuable plants on display, which is a move I’d hate to make.” | “The whole appeal of the gardens is that they are open and accessible, but we will have to look at something to make it more secure. We will look at security and we may have to look at whether we actually put valuable plants on display, which is a move I’d hate to make.” |
| The Arid Garden has been closed to visitors and is expected to be off-limits for the rest of the week. Victoria police have been told of the vandalism but it’s understood no suspects have been identified so far. | The Arid Garden has been closed to visitors and is expected to be off-limits for the rest of the week. Victoria police have been told of the vandalism but it’s understood no suspects have been identified so far. |
| Entwisle said that the incident was “very distressing” for staff who discovered the damage on Wednesday morning. | Entwisle said that the incident was “very distressing” for staff who discovered the damage on Wednesday morning. |
| “Anything tall and erect has been chopped up and left lying on the ground,” he said. “It looks like a big storm been through, but with more violence.” | “Anything tall and erect has been chopped up and left lying on the ground,” he said. “It looks like a big storm been through, but with more violence.” |
| “Our staff know every plant individually. They tend to them and they prune them. Each one would’ve been known to them, so it’s a bit like losing a child. It’s what we go to work for.” | “Our staff know every plant individually. They tend to them and they prune them. Each one would’ve been known to them, so it’s a bit like losing a child. It’s what we go to work for.” |
| Entwisle said that the only other comparable act of vandalism in recent times at the gardens was the slashing of the 400-year-old Separation Tree in 2010. | Entwisle said that the only other comparable act of vandalism in recent times at the gardens was the slashing of the 400-year-old Separation Tree in 2010. |
| “It’s very unusual to have vandalism because just about everyone loves gardens,” he said. “I’ve worked at Kew and Sydney and I’ve seen nothing like this.” | “It’s very unusual to have vandalism because just about everyone loves gardens,” he said. “I’ve worked at Kew and Sydney and I’ve seen nothing like this.” |
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