The Endangered Baobab Tree: A 10,000-Year-Old Giant Facing Extinction

I first learned about the baobab tree from the fairy tale 'The Little Prince' that I read as a child. A tree so large that it could destroy the planet where the Little Prince lived? At first, I thought it was a fictional tree that only existed in fairy tales.

The baobab tree is a massive tree that grows in Africa, Australia, and other regions, reaching a diameter of 10 meters and a height of 20 meters. Compared to its thick trunk, its branches are relatively thin, and its leaves aren't particularly lush, making it look like a tree planted upside down. Due to this unique appearance, there's a fun legend that says God accidentally planted the baobab tree upside down.

What's more interesting than the baobab tree's legends is its lifespan. It is said that baobab trees can live up to 10,000 years. Their ability to store large amounts of water within their thick trunks is believed to be the reason for their longevity. However, recently, baobab trees have been dying before reaching their full lifespan.

In Africa, baobab trees that were 1,000 to 2,000 years old have been dying. While a thousand years seems like a long time, it's only about 10% of a baobab tree's lifespan. It's like a human who can live to 100 years old dying at the age of 10. What's even more concerning is the reason for the baobab trees' deaths. These water-rich trees are dying of dehydration. Experts believe that rising temperatures and drought caused by climate change are the culprits.

Baobab trees are also an endangered species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the baobab tree as endangered (EN). It's sobering to think that a tree that can live for 10,000 years is facing extinction, highlighting just how precarious the situation on Earth has become.

The baobab tree, nicknamed the 'Tree that Gives Without Asking,' provides a habitat for numerous animals and its bark serves as a food source. Humans also utilize the baobab tree's fruits for food and its bark for clothing. If this tree, which provides food and shelter to such a wide range of living beings, disappears, the ecosystem will likely suffer a significant blow. We need to be more mindful to prevent further ecological damage.