Extinct Tree, Alive Today

Thought to have been extinct for over 2 million years, a cluster of Wollemi pine was discovered by hikers in a secluded canyon outside of Sydney, Australia in 1994. Guarding this area from humans and fire along with cultivation and conservation efforts by botanical gardens have safeguarded this unique species. Now, advances in decoding the Wollemi pine genome may provide the secret to successfully preserve this critically endangered species.