National Museum of Australia details historical land takeover by prickly pear
What happened
The National Museum of Australia reported that prickly pear, which was introduced to Australia from the Americas in 1788, had taken over 24.3 million hectares of land in New South Wales and Queensland before moth releases began in 1926. The cactus was originally brought by the First Fleet for the production of red dye, as cochineal insects produced a vivid red dye.
From hindustantimes.com
Why it matters
The historical introduction of the cactus led to a massive agricultural crisis, as the plants covered vast areas of land, making it unusable for farming. This event illustrates the economic impact of introduced species on land productivity.
The First Fleet established what is considered Australia's first European settlement.
From hindustantimes.com
Who's involved
- First FleetThe fleet that transported the Opuntia plants from Brazil to Australia in 1788.
- National Museum of AustraliaThe museum that provided information regarding the land takeover by the cactus.
- QueenslandThe state of Australia where the prickly pear took over millions of hectares of land.
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The entities involved
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First Fleet
11 ships that left Great Britain to found the penal colony that became the first European settlement in Australia
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National Museum of Australia
museum in Canberra, Australia
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