[neverevergiveup]

Survives almost 5000 years, only to get cut down by a graduate student.

[CatOwner]

"... with permission from the US Forest Service ..."

There's that part of the story.

[Joe 6-pack]

"Survives almost 5000 years, only to get cut down by a graduate student."

A graduate student with federal government consent.

When an aspiring academic elite joins forces with fedgov, even the most entrenched, hardiest of organisms don't stand a chance.