Collapse of 400-year-old baobab on outskirts of Hyderabad sparks alarm
Thought to have been planted by African settlers more than four centuries ago, the ancient tree is believed to have succumbed to a severe pest infestation. Only three baobabs now remain in the cluster, which are located within 50 metres of one another.
'One of them has a girth of over 20 metres,' said Salman K, a local who last visited the tree in November 2024. 'At that time, I noticed a minor infestation on a few branches, some of which had already fallen.
I never imagined the damage would spread so drastically. Seeing the collapsed tree was heartbreaking,' he added.
Another concern highlighted by environmentalists is the dense plantation under the baobabs. Under the Yadadri Model Plantation scheme implemented in 2021–22, more than 10,000 saplings, including banyan, karanji, raavi, and others, were planted across the forest with just one-metre spacing. A rusted plantation board still stands nearby, listing 22 species planted under the CAMPA scheme.
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'But these heritage trees are now in serious jeopardy. The real issue is the uncontrolled plantation activity near them. These saplings are encroaching on the baobabs' root zone,' said Uday Krishna, an environmentalist who documented the tree through his initiative, The Big Tree Quest. 'Baobabs have shallow roots and wide canopies. Fast-growing species like banyan and karanji compete for essential resources like space, water, and sunlight.
This weakens the older baobabs, making them more susceptible to perish, but they can live up to 1000 years if maintained,' he added.
'I've only seen such a dense baobab grouping once before, in Savannur, Karnataka,' he added. Today, fewer than 20 baobabs are thought to survive in the Deccan region. The Chingi Cherla cluster is believed to be the only naturally occurring group of baobabs in India, making its preservation all the more vital.
Environmentalists are now calling on the Telangana Forest Department to urgently remove the encroaching saplings, treat pest infections, and formally protect the area as a heritage grove.
'We have inspected the site. The fall was due to natural decay. We have also initiated fresh regeneration at the location,' said an official from the forest department. 'There was a proposal to develop a park around the area a few years ago, but it didn't materialise. As for conservation, regular monitoring is being done. These are old trees, and aging is a factor, but we are taking all necessary precautions.'
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