Thousands flock to Geelong to see rare corpse flower bloom

In Geelong, Australia, thousands lined up to see the rare blooming of the 'corpse flower,' which occurs once every decade. The flower emits a strong odor to attract pollinators, drawing nearly 5,000 visitors on its first day. The Geelong Botanic Garden received the plant in 2021 and has awaited its bloom. The flower began blooming on November 11, with many describing its smell as similar to a dead animal. The 'corpse flower' is native to Indonesia and is classified as endangered due to habitat loss. It blooms only a few times in its 30 to 40-year lifespan, with only a few hundred remaining in the wild.