INVASION: Lessons from the Prickly Pear

During the early 1900's the Prickly Pear cactus (Opuntia sp.) became a serious invasive plant across the Great Karoo, causing much harm to livestock farmers. The invasion reached its peak in the late 1930's. In this film ex- farmer Brian Hobson, vividly recalls his experience of the invasion, while entomologist, Helmuth Zimmermann, takes us on a journey across the region to show how two parasitic insects introduced in the 1940s eventually brought the Prickly Pear under control. In the meantime, Kanyisa Jama of SANBI's Early Detection Programme has her eye on the future, identifying new invader cactus species escaping from nurseries and domestic gardens. Director: Michael Raimondo Camera: Warren James Smart Length:12min 32Sec