Starts to keep a llama, a hare and rabbits in desert (8)

I believe the answer is:

kalahari

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'desert' is the definition.
(I know that Kalahari is a desert)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for kalahari that I've seen before include "SW African desert" , "Desert of southern Africa" , "Desert of south-west Africa" , "In very dry area" , "This desert is a barren plateau in Botswana" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.

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