The Big Orchid Project

Orchids are notoriously difficult to identify, making it challenging to survey for them most of the year. The big fat orchid project aims to test whether detection dogs are capable of telling orchids apart out of flowering seasons. This is likely to be relatively challenging, requires a captive orchid population, and may not be feasible. However, should it prove feasible, it will revolutionise our capacity to protect orchids from industrial expansion.

Photo: Julie Miller