Kings Park horticulturists and visitors were horrified to find big obscenities scrawled on a mature park tree this week.
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions said the damaged eucalyptus tree is just one example of an increasing number of attacks and damage to the WA botanic garden and bushland trees.
The graffiti removal process by the arbor team will involve carefully brushing the bark, which will remain rough and scarred looking until it is shed by the tree next season.
WA botanic garden director Sue McDougall said the increasing number of incidents was devastating.
“With our changing climate now, more than ever, we need to be protecting our trees any way that we can,” she said.
“Another mature lemon scented gum was found by our arbor team this month deliberately hacked by an axe. This is incredibly disheartening for our team and the broader Perth community.”
The damage comes as the Kings Park canopy battles to survive the extended Perth drought conditions. Last week works began to remove multiple eucalypts, that are more than 80 years old, that could not be saved from the lack of rain.
Ms McDougall urged anyone with information to report it to Crime Stoppers.