‘Extinct’ water lily found thriving in Rwanda

Italian and German researchers have found the world’s smallest water lily thriving in its native Rwanda despite being believed to be extinct. Scientists on a joint mission organised by the University of Roma Tre, with Thomas Abeli, and the German University of Koblenz, with Siegmar Seidel, Sarah Marie Müller and Jean Marie Habiyakare, discovered Nymphaea thermarum in the southern part of the central African country on July 29, 2023.

First identified by botanist Eberhard Fischer of the University of Koblenz in 1987, the water lily was last seen in its native area in 2008. Subsequently it was listed as 'Extinct in the Wild’ by the World Conservation Union and it was believed to survive in only a few botanical gardens. "To our great surprise, this graceful water lily is still found in the wild with an abundant and thriving population," said Abeli of the science department at Roma Tre University. “While this rediscovery is certainly good news, there are imminent threats to the species, particularly from mining,” he continued. Consequently, “the path to conserving this rare and iconic water lily is far from straightforward and will require a spirit of cooperation between different stakeholders”, said Abeli.

For Seidel, the rediscovery of the small water lily “is just the start of a more extensive search”. Nymphaea thermarum can be seen as a symbol of hope for the many species that are currently disappearing from their native areas, and of rebirth for one of the countries in Africa that is most committed to nature conservation.