A Perth cactus which has provided the backdrop for countless photos has been hacked down for the second time in little more than a year.
Staff at Swanbourne fashion boutique Ginger Owl vented their fury after the four-meter tall plant was damaged on Friday night.
“Our beautiful cactus has been targeted again… one year on but this time it’s worse,” a post from the business on Instagram read.
“Two low-life a**holes decided to hack, steal and vandalize our beautiful plant just after midnight (Friday).”
The cactus was planted over three years ago and at the time was barely one meter tall.
It has now quadrupled in size since then – and garnered quite the following.
“This cactus has become iconic. The love and attention it gets is unbelievable,” Ginger Owl’s post read.
“We have witnessed wedding parties in front of it, bloggers, brides and grooms, fashion labels, influencers and the general public.
“It was the perfect backdrop and specimen.”
Staff rounded out the post by saying the plant needed to be protected from “low-lifes” who think “they can hack an arm or two off it”.
It is understood that no official complaint has been made to the police. Ginger Owl management were sought for comment.
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In July last year police were called to investigate after a thief was caught on camera carving off a large branch from the plant.
Police said a man got out of a car on North Street with a machete before getting to work.
“He just gets out a machete and he’s gone,” Senior Sergeant Peter Gilmour said at the time.
“In my time in the western suburbs I’ve investigated wildflowers and rose bushes being stolen, so it’s quite common here.”
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