Baobabs tree and Elephants

 

BAOBABS TREES AND ELEPHANTS! 

One of the things that fascinating about baobabs is that, they have got some elephant protection. Any other tree that is wounded by elephant can repair the damage only from the sides of the wound. The baobab regenerates the whole wound at the same time – it does not have to work from the outsides in. That makes them very successful as a tree. 

The size of the tree varies, it can shrink and expand depending on its needs. In the dry season the trunk shrinks and when water is abundant, the trunk expands to support more water storage.

Being so massive you would think that these trees are almost indestructible, but there is another giant in the bush that can cause great damage; the African elephant. 

Elephants know that baobabs store water and especially in the dry season when water is scarce they look for baobab trees to quench their thirst.

The bark of the baobab is soft enough for an elephant to poke a hole in the bark. Then it is easy to start ripping the bark off. Once this protection is gone, the elephant has access to the best part – the inner part of the tree. This part is like a sponge – rather like a watermelon. Chewing on the flesh can quench an elephant’s thirst.

It is incredible to see just how fierce elephant herds can be when feasting on baobabs.

If left to recover, the baobab can re-generate its bark, but when damaged too severely, baobabs deteriorate very fast to a pulp.

Still, driving around Tarangire you will find countless trees that bear the scars of thirsty elephants.