This ‘dinosaur tree', which survived for 90 million years was found growing in a hidden canyon in Australia

Dinosaur tree found in Australia: For decades, scientists believed this ancient tree existed only in fossils. Then, in 1994, an off-duty canyoning trip in Australia's Wollemi National Park changed everything.

New South Wales park ranger David Noble descended into a remote rainforest canyon about 93 miles northwest of Sydney and came across tall, unusual trees unlike anything expected in the modern world, as per a report. The trees were later identified as the Wollemi pine (Wollemia nobilis), a species whose family line had been known mainly from fossils and was widely believed to have disappeared millions of years ago.

The discovery stunned scientists, but the survival story of the Wollemi pine is far from secure. Australia's latest recovery plan reports that only 45 mature wild trees and 46 juveniles remain in a single wild population spread across four stands, with the exact location still kept secret, as per an Eco News report.

A living fossil from the age of dinosaurs

The Wollemi pine belongs to the Araucariaceae family, a plant lineage dating back roughly 200 million years. Fossil evidence linked to the species stretches back about 91 million years, meaning its ancestors lived alongside dinosaurs.

Because of this remarkable history, scientists often refer to the Wollemi pine as a "living fossil" or the "dinosaur tree." A species thought to have vanished around 2 million years ago had simply remained hidden in an isolated canyon, as per the Eco News report.

The tree's scientific name also honors its rediscovery. "Wollemi" comes from the national park where it was found, while "nobilis" recognizes ranger David Noble, whose weekend expedition brought the species back to modern science.

Inside the hidden canyon where the trees survive

The surviving wild Wollemi pines grow in a cool, damp canyon protected by steep sandstone walls. In these sheltered conditions, the trees can reach heights of about 131 feet.

They are known for their distinctive bubbly reddish bark and fern-like foliage. Mature trees often produce multiple trunks from a single base, and according to NSW National Parks, one tree can grow as many as 40 trunks, as per the Eco News report.

Individual trunks may survive for up to 450 years, while some of the larger trees could be hundreds or even thousands of years old. The species can reproduce by seed, but it also resprouts, meaning some stems may belong to much older living systems.

Why the exact location remains secret

The location of the wild Wollemi pines is carefully protected because the species is extremely vulnerable.

Unauthorized visits can damage seedlings, compact soil, harm exposed roots, spread weeds, and introduce diseases. One of the biggest threats is Phytophthora, a waterborne root rot pathogen that can spread through mud, runoff, or contaminated equipment, as per the Eco News report.

To reduce those risks, Australia's recovery plan restricts access to essential personnel only. Authorized visitors must disinfect footwear, clothing, and equipment before entering the site.

Bushfires came dangerously close

The 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires highlighted just how fragile the species remains.

According to Australia's national recovery plan, fire affected both the wild population and three translocated stands, as per the Eco News report. Emergency teams responded with irrigation systems, aerial water bombing, fire retardant, and remote-area firefighting efforts to protect the last natural stands.

Although the response prevented catastrophic losses, the fires severely reduced seedlings and juvenile trees and damaged several mature individuals.

Scientists warn that rebuilding young populations from seed could take at least 20 to 30 years without another major fire.

Scientists are closely watching the tree's genetics

Researchers have long known that Wollemi pines possess extremely low genetic diversity, making them more vulnerable to disease, fire, drought, and environmental change, as per the Eco News report.

However, there has been some encouraging news. New genomic techniques developed by the Botanic Gardens of Sydney have identified small genetic differences among individual trees for the first time, offering valuable information for future conservation efforts.

A 2023 genome study also described the Wollemi pine as a critically endangered living fossil with very low genetic diversity, making every surviving wild tree especially important.

From secret canyon to botanic gardens

After confirming the species, scientists began propagating Wollemi pines outside their natural habitat.

The strategy was designed to safeguard the species in case disease or wildfire destroys the remaining wild population. Cuttings were released commercially beginning in 2005 to reduce illegal collecting pressure, raise conservation funds, and establish the species in botanic gardens around the world.

FAQs

What is the Wollemi pine?
The Wollemi pine is a rare Australian tree species often called a "living fossil."

When was the Wollemi pine discovered?
It was rediscovered in 1994 by NSW park ranger David Noble.