Thursday, September 04, 2008

The Thorn Burdens

The Africa Science News Service is reporting about a threat to the wildlife in Kenya's nature reserves caused by the invasive Mauritius thorn (Caesalpinia decapetala). Also known as "cat's claw," this thorny leguminous shrub is poisonous to the large herbivorous mammals that roam the country's parks. It also forms thickets that block access to the good vegetation that animals like giraffes count on for sustenance. Unfortunately, according to the article, attempt at controlling the invader have so far failed.

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