This archive report was first published on 5 June 2020.
Published on June 5, 2020, a report by Paul Letiwa highlighted the growing threat of the Opuntia ficus, an invasive cactus plant, to the elephant population in northern Kenya.
The Opuntia ficus, also known as the prickly pear cactus, has taken over grazing lands in Isiolo and Laikipia counties, displacing pastoral communities and causing injuries and infections to people, livestock, and wildlife.
According to Mr. Peter Lekurtut, the manager of Oldonyiro Conservancies in Isiolo North, six elephants have died in the past five months after eating the plant. The cactus's spines and glochids can cause fatal injuries to elephants, and its spread is exacerbated by droughts and human activities.
Environmental experts say the eradication of the Opuntia ficus depends on factors such as terrain, cost, and availability of labor, severity of the infestation, and presence of other invasive species. However, controlling the fast-spreading cactus is difficult due to limited resources in the arid and semi-arid lands in the north.
A partnership of scientists, conservationists, commercial ranchers, and local communities has been formed to find ways of eradicating the cactus. They sought help from the Centre for Agricultural Biosciences International (CABI), which introduced a biological control mechanism using a cochineal, a sap-sucking insect, to control the cactus.
However, local pastoralists say the insect has not been effective in controlling the plant's spread, especially in mountains and valleys. The situation remains a concern for the elephant population and the environment in northern Kenya.
