One of the world’s largest botanical gardens, Chile’s Viña del Mar National Botanical Garden, is facing near-total destruction after devastating wildfires swept through central Chile. 🌿🔥 The blaze has claimed at least 123 lives, with heartbreaking losses reaching even the garden’s dedicated staff.
Spanning 1,000 acres, the garden was a global hub for conservation, nurturing over 1,000 rare tree species, including the critically endangered Sophora toromiro—now extinct in the wild. Rare cactuses, exotic plants from Asia and Europe, and countless endemic species unique to Chile may have vanished overnight.
‘98% destroyed’—that’s the grim update from staff, who evacuated hundreds of visitors Friday as flames encircled the site. Among the victims was a greenhouse keeper, her mother, and two grandsons, highlighting the human toll of this tragedy. 😢
Scientists fear the garden’s loss could erase decades of research and ecological heritage. As Chile mourns, global environmentalists are calling for urgent action to protect fragile ecosystems. 🌍💔
