Baobab trees chewed by elephants
| Title | Info |
|---|---|
| Common name | Baobab; Elephant, African |
| Scientific name | Adansonia digitata; Loxodonta africana |
| Taxonomic group | Bombacaceae; Elephantidae |
| Level | FamilyFamily |
| Source | Dan L. Perlman |
| Ecosystems | Grasslands, savannas |
| Grasslands and savannas | Tropical savanna |
| Ecological interactions | Herbivory |
| Date | August 01, 2003 |
| Location | Tarangire National Park,Tanzania,Africa |
Baobab trunk with extensive elephant damage, Tanzania. This photo shows the outcome of a battle between individuals of two massive and very long-lived species: baobabs and elephants. While baobabs only grow about 70 feet (20 m) tall, they can be up to 50 feet (15 m) in diameter (yes, diameter, not circumference). Baobabs may live as long as 3,000 years, during which time they experience many changes (in dry years the girth of the baobab tree actually shrinks). In comparison, African elephants, the largest land animals alive today, can be 4 yards (4 m) tall at the shoulder, weigh up to 7 tons (6,300 kg), and live for 60-70 years. This image clearly shows where elephants have not only peeled the bark off the trunk of the baobab but have cut deeply into the trunk.
