Baobab tree faces extinction

THE Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has revealed that elephants in Mana Pools National Park, situated along the Zambezi River basin east of Chirundu Border Post, are munching into extinction baobab trees in the park.

Speaking at the weekend during a media tour organised by the African Wildlife Foundation, Mana Pools area manager Edmore Ngosi said: “The baobab tree was one of the tourist attractions to the park. Tourists used to flock and have a look at the unique features of the tree, but because of the growing population of elephants, the species is dwindling in numbers. Elephants eat the baobab bark, thus most of these trees remain exposed to heat and eventually die.”

The giant trees that dominate arid southern African regions have traditionally been valuable sources of food, water, health remedies and shelter for both animals and humans.

Their existence has been subject of legend and superstition, while climate change has recently also threatened their continued existence.

Families cook and eat the leaves as a vegetable. The fruits can been eaten raw or cooked into porridge. Baobab seeds also substitute coffee, and the bark fibre can be woven into mats.

"Normally it takes six months or more for trees to recover after the barks have been removed for mats," White Moyo, a resident of Chirundu said. "And during this recovery time trees are susceptible to the disease.”

As Zimbabwe struggles to cope with recurrent El Nino-induced droughts, which continue to negatively affect harvests, both animals and humans are increasing depending on the baobab for survival in arid regions.

Zimbabwe has the world’s second-largest elephant population after Botswana, and about one-quarter of the elephants in all of Africa.

Mana Pools contributes a bigger chunk to this number.

In areas such as Gonarezhou National Park, ZimParks has started some projects to protect the baobab trees including protecting the new plants to ensure continuity of the renowned tree.