Around 3,000 plants of several orchid species have been dug up and stolen in Germany's famous Taubergiessen Nature Reserve.
Scores of flowering Early Spider, Late Spider and Bumblebee Orchids were among those vandalised by the thieves over an area spanning several hectares of the reserve, which is situated along the River Rhine close to the French-German border, north of Freiburg.
The orchids are likely to have been stolen for sale on the internet, where considerable demand remains – some buyers are rumoured to pay in excess of €100 for a single plant – which makes them a lucrative target for criminals. Using this value, the police estimate around €250,000 worth of damage at Taubergiessen.