[Watch] African Baobab Tree That Can Live Up To 3,000 Years Found In Tamil Nadu

By OB Bureau On Sep 2, 2023

New Delhi: Supriya Sahu, IAS, posted as Additional Chief Secretary for Environment Climate Change & Forests in Tamil Nadu, stumbled upon an unexpected treasure and didn’t lose time in sharing it on social media. What she was a magnificent African Baobab tree, located inside the campus of Chinmaya Vidyalaya in Rajapalayam, Tamil Nadu.

Sahu took to X and shared her excitement with followers. She shared an image and a video of the magnificent tree, along with details of where she found it and what makes this tree special.

In her caption, she informed that this tree, an African Baobab, resembles an elephant foot. It is scientifically known as Adansonia digitata and also aptly referred to as the elephant tree because elephants have a fondness for its succulent bark.

I was awestruck to see this massive African Baobab tree located inside the campus of Chinmaya Vidyalaya in Rajapalayam in TN. It resembles a humongous elephant foot. Botanically called as Adansonia digitata, it is also known as elephant tree because elephants love to eat it. As… pic.twitter.com/oBLfHsrsgR

— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) August 31, 2023

She further wrote that National Geographic once described the baobab as a big fat bottle of water to a thirsty elephant, highlighting the tree’s remarkable ability to store water within its massive trunk, even during the harshest drought conditions. While these trees are native to the African continent, the one found in Rajapalayam is believed to have been planted there by Arab traders centuries ago. This particular baobab tree has stood the test of time, with an estimated age of at least 700 years, making it one of the oldest trees in the state, adds Sahu.

Sahu’s post showcasing the extraordinary baobab tree quickly caught people’s attention on Twitter. Posted on August 31, it already has nearly 32,000 views.

According to One Earth, a non-profit organization working to solve the climate crisis, the baobab tree is far more than a striking botanical specimen. It is an icon of the African continent itself. Its bark and fruit offer over 300 life-sustaining uses, earning it the well-deserved title – The Tree of Life. Rooted in ancient history, this prehistoric species has thrived for over 200 million years, predating both human civilisation and continental shifts.