FW: Stolen cycads are returned to QBG

From: "Cooper, Susan L." SLCooper at scj.com> on 2003.02.05 at 13:59:30(9926) QBG A sort of happy ending from the director of Quail Botanical Gardens in +More Encinitas, CA: An anonymous caller left a message on QBG's general voice mail box stating they thought they knew where the cycads stolen from the Gardens the weekend before last were located. The caller (male) then proceeded to give detailed directions to two locations. One was on Twin Oaks Valley Road north of Twin Oaks Crest the second location was about 1/4 mile west of the 15 on the road to San Louis Downs. Today QBG staff followed up on these leads and were met by four San Diego County Sheriff's Department officers at the two sites. Fifteen plants were recovered at the first site in a ditch along the road. The remaining six plants were recovered at the second site amongst discarded debris including a long dead dog. While the plants have suffered from this experience, staff are encouraged that all can with time and care survive. While this is not certain and the process may take over a year we are extremely pleased that all 21 stolen plants have been returned to QBG. While increased security measures were implemented from the time of theft we are still evaluating what long term measures will be most effective in deterring any future thefts. Conversations I have had since the theft with other public garden directors and collection managers who are responsible for the care and display of rare cycads does point to a common vulnerability. I was surprised as to how many institutions have lost these plants to theft and believe the problem is getting worse. I wish to thank all the many people who responded with well wishes and also the potential leads. The community of private cycad enthusiasts and conservationists have helped a greatdeal in getting the word out. I also wish to thank the media for giving this theft the profile they did which may very well have contributed to recovering the plants. The detective on this case believes the plants ended up being "too hot" and that's why they were dumped. The Union and NC Times both will run stories tomorrow and will have photos of the plants as they returned to the Gardens. The Sheriff's Department personnel were all extremely helpful and will continue the investigation to hopefully uncover the perpetrators. Robert Kopfstein even made a trip to Rosarito to visit a nursery where he knew stolen cycads had been seen in the past. I'm sure it is appreciated as to how this theft impacted the staff and volunteers who have worked so hard to establish these plants in a conservation role. While no one ever verbalized it, there was little hope that we would ever see these plants again. Feelings are very high at this time but in no way a distraction to our resolve to protect what we have. Julian Julian Duval Executive Director Quail Botanical Gardens

From: Paul Tyerman ptyerman at ozemail.com.au> on 2003.02.05 at 23:31:54(9930) Susan, Now THAT is a surprise (but a WONDERFUL one!) Thanks so much for the update. It is great to hear that they have been recovered in good enough condition to be hopeful of saving them. A big sigh of relief!! Cheers. Paul Tyerman +More Canberra, Australia. USDA equivalent - Zone 8/9 mailto:ptyerman@ozemail.com.au Growing.... Galanthus, Erythroniums, Fritillarias, Cyclamen, Crocus, Cyrtanthus, Liliums, Hellebores, Aroids, Irises plus just about anything else that doesn't move!!!!!

From: Rand Nicholson writserv at nbnet.nb.ca> on 2003.02.06 at 16:03:24(9936) Hello All: The retrieval of the stolen cycads by the Quail Botanical Gardens in Encinitas, CA and the San Diego Sheriff's Department Officers is great news: My best hopes that the plants do recover from the experience and continue to be healthy and thrive! I had wondered (and feared) that these plants, or some of them, might not end up "in a ditch along the road". The fortunate thing is that someone had either the conscience, or the fear of consequences, to inform the Gardens of their liberation site. Although the theft was indeed a dastardly deed at least one of the individuals involved must have had some appreciation of the intrinsic _value_ of these rare specimens as opposed to the common price in guilders they may have obtained through illicit trade. To me, this begs the question: If so, then why steal them in the first place knowing the risk to the well being of cycads this action would entail? Greed? Covetousness? Surely such a deed must have had some forethought and planning and not have been done on impulse. On the other hand, if the return of these plants was simply an attempt to mitigate any consequences following the theft (and possible apprehension of the perpetrators), then the whole affair is sadder still. I have worked in administration in a "Correctional Institute", been regularly down in population and am overly familiar with the mindset and attitude of people who think that taking something that is not theirs to take is just another piece of work. Perhaps this is whimsical of me and it has no bearing on the events, certainly does not change a whit what has been so wrongfully done, but I would like to think that at least one of the thieves (and thieves they are, all) had a concern higher than his own butt. Again, heart-felt congratulations to all of Quail and Julian Duval for this reversal of fortunes and thanks to Susan for keeping us updated on this List. Kind Regards, Rand +More QBG A sort of happy ending from the director of Quail Botanical Gardens in Encinitas, CA: (Snip) ... The remaining six plants were recovered at the second site amongst discarded debris including a long dead dog. While the plants have suffered from this experience, staff are encouraged that all can with time and care survive. While this is not certain and the process may take over a year we are extremely pleased that all 21 stolen plants have been returned to QBG. (Snip) Julian Julian Duval Executive Director Quail Botanical Gardens

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