In the drier western Socotra in particular, Socotris grow Euphorbia arbuscula as a means to feed their goats during the very harshest of droughts.
It has a sinister side to it, as when the goats eat the Euphorbia arbuscula, they cannot drink water for a month. The Socotris tell me that the goats will die if they drink and eat Euphorbia arbuscula! It shows the extreme life and death situation for the Socotris as they resort to fodder that has the potential to kill the goats that eat it!
A few years ago a large number of goats died due to drought, so it is a very real threat. As the climate change has made the weather pattern unreliable, the Socotris now never know when the next drought will hit them. Thus they keep growing the Euphorbia arbuscula as a means to overcome the next severe drought. The challenge is that after a month without water the goats will begin to suffer, and without any other fodder they will eventually die from thirst and starvation.
Elevation: 190 meters.
Euphorbia arbuscula is endemic to Socotra.
Last updated on 8 November 2024
