A giant baobab tree believed to be more than a millennium old is now showing severe signs of decline in southwestern Madagascar, raising alarm among conservationists and local communities who regard the tree as both a natural monument and a sacred cultural symbol.
Known as Tsitakakantsa, the massive baobab is considered the largest recorded on the island nation, with a trunk measuring nearly 29 meters in circumference and a height of about 25 meters. Local traditions describe the tree with a poetic meaning in the Malagasy language: so large that a song sung from one side cannot be heard from the other.
Scientists and local environmental observers say the tree’s condition has worsened rapidly following Tropical Storm Jude, which struck Madagascar in March 2025. Heavy rainfall reportedly entered the tree’s hollow interior through an opening near the top, accelerating internal decay and weakening the structure that has stood for centuries.
Visible cracks, collapsing sections of the trunk, and unstable roots have increased concerns that the ancient baobab may not survive the next few years.
“This is not just the loss of a tree,” one conservation researcher involved in monitoring the area told local media. “It represents the disappearance of a living archive of Madagascar’s environmental history.”
Baobabs are among the world’s most iconic trees and are deeply linked to Madagascar’s ecological identity. The country is home to seven of the world’s eight known baobab species, six of which are found nowhere else on Earth.
Many ancient baobabs naturally develop hollow interiors as multiple stems fuse together over time. Scientists say this unusual structure allows the trees to survive harsh climates and store large amounts of water during droughts. However, the same feature can also leave aging trees vulnerable to intense storms and prolonged climate stress.
Environmental researchers have increasingly warned that climate instability is affecting Madagascar’s fragile ecosystems. Studies on ancient baobabs across Africa have documented unusual mortality rates among some of the continent’s oldest specimens over the last decade, with scientists linking the pattern to extreme weather conditions and long-term shifts in climate.
For communities living near Tsitakakantsa, the threat is personal as much as environmental. The tree has long served as a spiritual gathering place and cultural landmark. Local customs reportedly require visitors to offer gifts such as honey or rum before approaching the site, reflecting the reverence attached to the ancient giant.
Despite its deteriorating condition, Tsitakakantsa continues to attract attention from conservation advocates who hope emergency preservation efforts could slow its decline or help document its legacy before it is lost.
Whether the tree survives another decade remains uncertain. What is clear is that one of Madagascar’s oldest living witnesses is now struggling against forces that even twelve centuries of resilience may no longer withstand.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
