Euphorbia marlothiana

As conservators we have the good intention of saving our species from extinction...but are our actions speeding up the process? 

Euphorbia marlothiana, commonly known as Medusa's Head, gets its name from its multi-branched appearance.  This particular species is regarded as vulnerable and only occurs in the Strandveld region in Cape Town, South Africa.  It only occurs within three reserves on the Cape Flats, namely the Cape Flats Nature Reserve, Macassar Dunes and Wolfgat Nature Reserve.

With so few populations left in the world, we desperately want to protect them.  Very little research has been done on this species thus far.  At the Cape Flats Nature Reserve this species has been covered by fencing to prevent the Grysbok eating them so that the population can grow. Is it not sometimes best to let nature take its own cause?  Do they not need to be disturbed and browsed to strengthen and produce a stronger, healthier plant?