At the Naibunga Conservancy in Laikipia North, the cactus has already taken over about 17,000 acres. Mr Lekurtut says the arid conditions in the vast area have made it easy for the cactus to spread rapidly. He says many cattle, goats, sheep and donkeys have died due to complications caused by eating the cactus. But because of the limited resources in the arid and semi-arid lands in the north, controlling the fast spreading cactus is difficult. A partnership of scientists from South Africa, conservationists, commercial ranchers and the local communities was formed to find ways of eradicating the cactus.

Source: Daily Nation July 11, 2017 14:15 UTC