I want to clear things up a bit. None of the indigenous animals (which camels aren't) or local livestock (including goats) eat enough prickly pear to make a difference. We have animals that eat acacia thorns, which are much spikier, but they don't like prickly pear as much as their regular food. There have been attempts at burning the prickly pear, but the problem was so widespread that it didn't work. The prickly pear covered a section of the continent, spanning from the east coast to the west coast, and was so thick in some places that it created tunnels over the roads. The natural vegetation of the area is extensive and includes many cactus-like plants (e.g. euphorbia and succulents), as well as bushes, grasses, and small trees; all adapted to living in desert or semi-desert conditions. People caused the problem, so we had to be the ones to correct it. There were no natural controls in SA for the spread of the plant because people took it out of its natural environment. All that happened, in this case, was that a biologist found out what controls the plant in the Americas, checked very carefully to make sure it wouldn't damage South Africa's natural vegetation and brought it here to control the plant. The thing that was put on the plant is an insect, not a poison. The insect is a tiny bug called cochineal, which has historically been used to make red dye. There are still prickly pears in SA, and we aren't trying to get rid of it completely. It was out of control before, but now that it isn't, we aren't really worried about it and have moved onto other invasive species. Some South African plants are invasive in other parts of the world. For example, Boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum) and African lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) are a big issue in Australia, and Ice Plant (Cryophytum crystallinum) is a problem in California (amongst other places).
The problem is nobody wants to eat the prickly pear leaves plant raw it just doesn't taste like anything. You're supposed take the thorns out of the tender plant leaves, score leaves top to bottom and them left to right, salt them very lightly, let them cook for a few minutes on both sides with a charcoal or propane grill outside or inside on griddle until soft then put them in any kind of beans or by themselves, add some mild or hot homemade salsa and you got yourself once of the best tasting, low cost and nutritious meals you can ever have. Put mixture inside local corn or flour flat bread variety for even better results😉 . Give it a few years to catch on and there is no invasion just plenty of well fed people.
LOL, eating raw cactus pads, the fruit yes but the pads raw? Steamed with a little salt and you're ready for a cacti salad or combining with other eats. Thumbs up ya all, greetings from the central plateau!
Hallo Helmuth, ek het nie geweet dat die langdoring truksvy so 'n indringer plant was in die Karoo hier in Suid Afrika nie, die video het my meer laat lees oor die "Cactoblastis cactorum moth" waarvan ek niks geweet het nie asook by www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/faobsc_web.pdf Ek dink jou werk het jou na intressante plekke en mense in die wereld geneem. Groete Kobus
I want to clear things up a bit.
None of the indigenous animals (which camels aren't) or local livestock (including goats) eat enough prickly pear to make a difference. We have animals that eat acacia thorns, which are much spikier, but they don't like prickly pear as much as their regular food.
There have been attempts at burning the prickly pear, but the problem was so widespread that it didn't work. The prickly pear covered a section of the continent, spanning from the east coast to the west coast, and was so thick in some places that it created tunnels over the roads.
The natural vegetation of the area is extensive and includes many cactus-like plants (e.g. euphorbia and succulents), as well as bushes, grasses, and small trees; all adapted to living in desert or semi-desert conditions.
People caused the problem, so we had to be the ones to correct it. There were no natural controls in SA for the spread of the plant because people took it out of its natural environment. All that happened, in this case, was that a biologist found out what controls the plant in the Americas, checked very carefully to make sure it wouldn't damage South Africa's natural vegetation and brought it here to control the plant.
The thing that was put on the plant is an insect, not a poison. The insect is a tiny bug called cochineal, which has historically been used to make red dye.
There are still prickly pears in SA, and we aren't trying to get rid of it completely. It was out of control before, but now that it isn't, we aren't really worried about it and have moved onto other invasive species.
Some South African plants are invasive in other parts of the world. For example, Boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum) and African lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) are a big issue in Australia, and Ice Plant (Cryophytum crystallinum) is a problem in California (amongst other places).
Wow! Very interesting and informative! Thanks for sharing!! Greetings from NOLA USA...👌❤️💪😑🙏
The problem is nobody wants to eat the prickly pear leaves plant raw it just doesn't taste like anything. You're supposed take the thorns out of the tender plant leaves, score leaves top to bottom and them left to right, salt them very lightly, let them cook for a few minutes on both sides with a charcoal or propane grill outside or inside on griddle until soft then put them in any kind of beans or by themselves, add some mild or hot homemade salsa and you got yourself once of the best tasting, low cost and nutritious meals you can ever have. Put mixture inside local corn or flour flat bread variety for even better results😉 .
Give it a few years to catch on and there is no invasion just plenty of well fed people.
This could end world hunger
My favorite fruit
these is being highly useful in brasil to feed animals
when planting barrier plants to keep the neighbours out,.. you might need your neibours help keeping you barrier planting in.
There’s nothing frivolous in mama nature. The cactus “invasion” was meant to do good
LOL, eating raw cactus pads, the fruit yes but the pads raw? Steamed with a little salt and you're ready for a cacti salad or combining with other eats. Thumbs up ya all, greetings from the central plateau!
yes the raw pads- juice them (with pineapple and half a jalapeno is pretty good)
Now I want to eat the mass amount of prickly pears in my yard
@@dsmiletheyrewatching3520 When they're in fruiting mode,you do eat the sweet, albeit full of seeds tunas? The white(green)ones are the sweetest. 😋
The new invaders are pitayos dragon fruit the tall ones that look like saguaros
Feed people in Africa!
Hallo Helmuth, ek het nie geweet dat die langdoring truksvy so 'n indringer plant was in die Karoo hier in Suid Afrika nie, die video het my meer laat lees oor die "Cactoblastis cactorum moth" waarvan ek niks geweet het nie asook by www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/faobsc_web.pdf
Ek dink jou werk het jou na intressante plekke en mense in die wereld geneem.
Groete
Kobus
Eat the damn things! Very profitable !
TEXAS Barbars