Micro-chip in endangered plants? -Forwarded

[PIETER WINTER]

One application of microchips is where conservation authorities 
embed these into trunks of Encephalartos spp. growing in the 
wild, in order to trace illegally removed specimens back to the 
original population, should they appear in the horticultural market.

The Northern Province dept. of Environment - Biodiversity unit 
bio at cis.co.za
should be able to provide further details in this regard. As far 
as I am aware,  in some cases permits for legally owned 
plants are cross-referenced to an embedded microchip as well.




  
>>> Sally Shelton <
Can anyone shed any light on this query? .... John Q. Public phoned
the Smithsonian seeking more information about the use of a
'micro-chip' being used on a species of endangered plant in South
Africa, presumably to track it if someone tried to steal it.  I assume
this might take place in a Botanic Garden, where sensors would pick it
up upon exiting.  He's interested in how this is applied and what
species is being tracked.  Thanks.

Pieter J.D. Winter
Curator of the Herbarium
University of the North
Private Bag  X 1106
0727 SOVENGA
pieterw at unin.unorth.ac.za
(0027-15) 268-2227  /  276-4240
fax: (0027-15) 268-2933