An Oxford biologist has captured the profoundly moving moment he discovered one of the planet's most elusive flowers, an encounter so powerful it reduced his fellow conservationist to tears.
The Gruelling Jungle Quest
Dr Chris Thorogood, an associate professor of biology at the University of Oxford, embarked on an arduous expedition through the dense, tiger-patrolled jungles of West Sumatra, Indonesia. His mission: to locate the incredibly rare Rafflesia hasseltii, a plant so scarce scientists believe it has been seen by more tigers than humans.
This particular species, known locally as 'Cendawan Muca Rimau' or 'Tiger-faced Mushroom', exists only in this remote region and requires a special permit to access. The plant's blooming cycle is exceptionally brief, with flowers emerging for just a few days after a nine-month development period.
The Electric Discovery Moment
In an extraordinary stroke of luck, Dr Thorogood and his team—local conservationist Septian Andriki and guide Iwan Iswandi—stumbled upon the exact moment the flower began to open. The emotional weight of this discovery proved overwhelming for Mr Andriki, who had spent thirteen years searching for this botanical treasure.
As Dr Thorogood filmed the scene, Mr Andriki broke down in tears at the sight of the rare bloom. "It's okay, we did it!" Dr Thorogood can be heard saying in the video as he comforts his colleague. "We found it, we found it, my friend."
Dr Thorogood later described the experience to Daily Mail as "electric," attributing the emotional response to "a combination of the tough trek and the extraordinary flower." He added, "Sitting quietly with the flower was otherworldly – it was like something sent from another planet."
Conservation Urgency and Public Reaction
The expedition formed part of a critical research and conservation mission. 60% of all Rafflesia species now face severe extinction risk, with 67% of known habitats falling outside protected areas. The Rafflesia family, which includes the world's largest flower, Rafflesia arnoldi (measuring up to one metre across), is known for producing a pungent odour of rotting meat to attract pollinators, earning them the nickname 'corpse flowers'.
Dr Thorogood emphasised that the real heroes were his local companions, whose extensive knowledge of the forest made the discovery possible. On social media, science enthusiasts celebrated the team's emotional reaction, with one commenter noting they were "crying just from watching the video" while another praised Mr Andriki as "a wonderful person to be so in awe of nature that it moves him to tears."
