What are the trees in Madagascar called?

The baobab trees, known locally as renala (Malagasy for “mother of the forest”), are up to 2,800 years old. They are a legacy of the dense tropical forests that once thrived on Madagascar.

Where are the big trees at in Madagascar?

MEET Malaindrano, a giant baobab tree hollowed out to store water. It grows in Ampotaka, a village in the Mahafaly plateau region of Madagascar, where there are 300 baobabs for every 475 people. Each tree has a name and a family responsible for protecting it.

What are the weird trees in Madagascar?

This strange yet magnificent tree is found only on the island of Madagascar. Known locally as the renala and sometimes referred to as ‘mother of the forest’, Grandidier’s baobabs have huge, cylindrical or bulbous trunks that can grow up to three metres across and are covered with smooth, grey bark.

Are baobab trees going extinct?

Not extinctBaobab / Extinction status

Why is the baobab tree special?

Over time, the Baobab has adapted to its environment. It is a succulent, which means that during the rainy season it absorbs and stores water in its vast trunk, enabling it to produce a nutrient-dense fruit in the dry season when all around is dry and arid. This is how it became known as “The Tree of Life”.

Why is the baobab tree important?

Nicknamed the “tree of life,” baobabs play a key role in their ecosystem. They help keep soil conditions humid, promote nutrient recycling, and prevent soil erosion. And, they are an important source of food, water, and shelter for various birds, reptiles, and insects.

What is special about the trees in Madagascar?

Real emblem of Malagasy flora, the baobab is a majestic and sacred tree that counts eight species. Six of them only grow in Madagascar. The baobab alley contains the most specimens in the world, so you will realize their impressive size and admire some trunks naturally intertwined (baobab in love).

Why is baobab tree unusual?

That is because the large trunk of the Baobab tree is used to store water, an adaptation to its dry climate. In fact, a single tree can store up to 32,000 gallons of water. In times of drought, humans can tap into the Baobab tree to extract the water. Elephants know this, too.

How many baobabs are left?

Of the nine baobab species on Earth, six are found only in Madagascar. Three of those are currently endangered, none more so than Adansonia perrieri, of which fewer than 250 mature trees remain today.

What kills baobab trees?

Baobabs are particularly reliant on the annual rainy season and need to sip up about 70 to 80 percent of their volume in water to stay upright. If there isn’t enough water in their system when they produce their leaves, flowers and fruit, the tree will die quickly and collapse.