Saguaro National Park in Arizona has a cactus problem. Or rather, a cactus thief problem.
The park’s massive cacti now wear microchips in an effort to deter thievery. The park’s cacti can live up to 200 years and grow more than 40 feet tall.
But some enthusiasts want to do more than just admire them. The park spent thousands of dollars to microchip around 1,000 plants, which can be used to identify stolen cacti. But the microchips don’t emit a signal, so the stolen plants can’t be tracked once they’re dug up. The only way to determine if a cacti has been stolen is to scan the chip.
But officials say this will deter thieves.
“It’s ironic that we set aside great places like Saguaro National Park and people think that they can just come take the iconic cactus for which the park is named,” Kevin Dahl, program manager, National Park Conservation Association in Arizona, told KTAR News.
Officials do not know how many saguaros have been stolen to date. The plants can fetch as much as $100 per foot.
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