Siemprevive de Isla de Cedros (Dudleya pachyphytum [Crassulaceae]) is the most intriguing and charismatic Dudleya species and it is also one of the rarest. It occupies a small, very specialized portion of only one island in the Pacific off the coast of Baja California, Mexico on Isla de Cedros. It is now ever closer to being extirpated as a group of poachers removed a huge portion of our entire global population. In the final days of May 2017, Mexican authorities performing a routine search of a 55-foot long freightliner tractor trailer rig in Baja California discovered a profound illegal shipment. In the enclosed trailer they counted 64 cardboard boxes loaded with a total of 4,756 rosettes of the extremely rare plant.

Four perpetrators were subsequently arrested in connection with this large-scale smuggling act and the rosettes are now, thankfully, in safe hands. What percentage of the entire population does this represent and can the planned repatriation ever return this population to its former health? Michael Uhler traveled to the crime scene to view first-hand the site of this unconscionable act and to determine the answers to the above questions.