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How old is Victoria Falls’ famed ‘Big Tree’?

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BY JONATHAN MOENS

Patrut and his team flew in from three different continents to study the “Big Tree” at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, and for good reason.

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The Big Tree is a colossal structure, soaring over 80 feet in the air, around 75 feet in circumference, with bulky branches, many stems that make up its trunk, and a wide, gaping hole at its core.

The Big Tree is thought to be one of the largest and oldest African baobab trees in the world.

Once the team of three arrived at Victoria Falls, they immediately rented a car to see the Big Tree in person.

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Its proximity to the falls, a major tourist destination, means that millions of visitors see it in a normal year, making it a sensation in its own right.

The sight did not disappoint, Patrut says.

“It was as if we had entered straight into a museum, into a well-known painting of a master, but we operated as scientists,” according to the nuclear chemist at Babes-Bolyai University in Romania.

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“I circled the baobab and admired it from all possible angles.”

Patrut, who has been studying ancient trees for decades, and his team made the pilgrimage to study the growth, age, and architecture of the tree.

Dating ancient trees often involves counting “growth rings” that appear seasonally, a tried and true method that unfortunately doesn’t work well for baobabs.

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These often massive trees have only very faint growth rings, and many have large cavities in their trunk and stems that confound attempts to date them.

Until recently, most of evaluations of African baobab trees have been “guesstimates,” he says.

But over the past decade, Patrut has been refining a more precise method for estimating the age of baobab trees: radiocarbon dating. Patrut has used it on trees across the continent: South Africa, Mozambique and Namibia.

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For the Big Tree, his team found that its multiple stems have different ages, with its oldest one dating back to about 870, around the time that Vikings first sTo do this, the team inserted a T-shaped tool called an “increment borer” into different areas of the stems of the baobab.

The tool extracts tiny wood samples at different depths, which the team then treated and sent to a lab for dating.

The results show that the nine stems (including a “false” stem that emerged out of an adjacent one) can be lumped into three distinct generations.

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There was the oldest one, at about 1,100 to 1,200 years old, a group that are around 600 to 700 years old, and another generation that dates to between 200 and 250 years ago.

The team also found that the oldest stems haven’t grown further for more than a century.ettled in Iceland.

“Stopped growing a hundred or so years ago—that’s an interesting finding,” says Bernd Kromer, a radiocarbon dating expert at Heidelberg University who was not involved in the research.

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The stunting may be attributable to stress and age, but the tree is still alive and continues to produce leaves and flowers.

It’s unclear how baobabs can live for so long.

Patrut says that a tree’s capacity to periodically produce new stems that fuse together into the distinctive ring-shaped architecture allows them to persist and reach very large sizes.

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Others say that monumental trees can have extremely long lives because they may be particularly resilient to external agents, including diseases, cancers, and pests.

Patrut’s study gives us insight into the “incredible strategies that trees use to cope with stress and old age,” says Livia Zapponi, an ecologist at the Edmund Mach Foundation, who has studied monumental trees and was not involved in the study.

The Big Tree is something of an outlier.

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While there are more than 100 million African baobabs in the world, fewer than 100 are thought to be 1,000 years or more old, says Patrut.

All of them have inevitably endured countless threats, both acute and chronic.

The Big Tree is no exception: In the 1960s, it survived a violent storm that virtually destroyed the upper part of its canopy.

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As climate change continues, African baobabs, especially older ones that rely on heavy rainfalls, could face scorching heat and prolonged drought can push them to their limits.

“[These are] very old trees that have survived for centuries, withstanding various abiotic and biotic factors including but not limited to extreme weather events,” says Patrut.

The Big Tree is large and old, but more than that, he says, it is resilient and adaptive—traits that are ever-more-critical in the face of an uncertain future – Atlas Obscura

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591 rangers killed in Africa — New report warns of urgent need for Better Protection

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

At least 591 rangers were killed in Africa between 2006 and 2021, making the continent the deadliest place in the world for those on the frontline of protecting wildlife. This stark statistic was revealed by conservation charity Tusk in a press statement issued to mark World Ranger Day, warning that without urgent reforms, more lives will be lost — and Africa’s biodiversity will pay the price.

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“Being a ranger extends far beyond conservation. You are educators, community leaders, researchers, mentors and protectors of cultural and historical heritage, yet this remains one of the most dangerous jobs on Earth,” said Prince William, Tusk’s Royal Patron, in a video message to rangers.

Despite their sacrifices, fewer than 40% of rangers worldwide have access to life insurance, and only 63% receive basic medical services. Many are still underpaid, under-equipped, and exposed to deadly risks from armed poachers, human-wildlife conflict, and hazardous terrain.

Nick Bubb, CEO of Tusk, said: “Too many rangers risk their lives without even the most basic protection. If we are serious about delivering the global biodiversity targets, we must further professionalise the ranger role – with insurance, fair pay, and recognition – so that it becomes a career young Africans aspire to join.”

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The White Paper, Protecting Rangers to Protect Nature, stresses that Africa currently has just 65,000 active rangers — far short of the 345,000 needed to meet international biodiversity targets, including the 30×30 goal to protect 30% of land and seas by 2030.

Louise de Bruin, CEO of the Game Rangers Association of Africa, added: “Our priority is to stand with rangers on the ground and support the organisations that employ them. The RWSI gives us a practical way to listen to rangers, assess their needs, and work alongside partners to improve welfare standards.”

The statement calls for governments, donors, and conservation organisations to embed reforms through the Ranger Welfare and Standards Initiative, launched last year. Measures include affordable insurance, professional training, fair pay, and continent-wide emergency systems to ensure no ranger is left vulnerable.

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Senior ranger Benson Kanyembo from Zambia captured the human cost: “Ranger recruitment is low because the job, as it stands, is not attractive enough. Rangers face extreme personal risk while their families live one accident or illness away from destitution. This is not acceptable.”

The report concludes that protecting rangers is inseparable from protecting nature. Without them, Africa risks losing not only its iconic elephants, rhinos, and lions — but also the ecosystems that provide food, water, and livelihoods for millions.

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Rangers run for conservation: The Wildlife Ranger Challenge in Gwai

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

Knowledge Sibanda, a 23-year-old ranger with the Conservation Wildlife Fund (CWF), stood at the starting line of the Wildlife Ranger Challenge, a 21-kilometer run held on Saturday. “I’m running because I want to show that rangers care about their health and our environment,” he said. This was his first time participating in the event, and as he looked around at his fellow rangers, excitement pulsed through him.

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As the horn sounded around 6AM, Knowledge and other rangers surged forward along the scenic Lubimbi Road, with water stations and fruit stands cheering them on every few kilometers. This was not just a race; it was a gathering to celebrate the vital work of wildlife rangers across Africa. Organized by the Painted Dog Conservation, the challenge aims to enhance rangers’ livelihoods while advocating for better training and support in their critical roles.

Running alongside Knowledge was Mbonisi Mudimba, another ranger who emphasized the purpose behind their participation. “We want to encourage the younger generation to get involved in conservation,” he explained, breathing heavily but with a smile of determination. “If we show them that we care and that being a ranger can be fulfilling, they’ll want to join us.”

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As the rangers completed their race, the atmosphere shifted to one of celebration and reflection. Participants gathered at a Gwai Valley School for a series of presentations that emphasized the day’s theme: protecting the environment for future generations.

Headman Doctor Ncube from Chimwara Village, who represented Chief Mabhikwa, spoke about the importance of conserving natural resources. “Thank you to the scouts and organizers of this event. This nature is vital, and as traditional leaders, we must protect it,” he said. He urged the rangers to stay fit, as their physical endurance is critical to countering poaching and safeguarding wildlife.

David Kuvawoga, Operations Director at Painted Dog Conservation, shared his appreciation of the rangers’ efforts. “We’re here today to show that we’re united in our mission,” he remarked. “Rangers work tirelessly, often away from their families, to protect our natural resources. Their dedication deserves recognition.”

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Dan Cloete, the Field Operations Manager at CWF, also highlighted the role of these events in building community support. “By hosting events like this, we show that rangers are not alone in their fight for conservation. Together, we can achieve more,” he stated, underscoring the camaraderie built during the race.

The day’s events culminated in an acknowledgment of the challenges faced by rangers. Debra Ogilvie-Roodt, who leads the CWF, reminded everyone of the risks involved in conservation work. “Rangers put their lives on the line every day. It’s essential that we raise awareness of their dedication and support them in any way we can,” she urged, calling for ongoing efforts to improve ranger welfare.

The Wildlife Ranger Challenge served as a reminder of the collaborative effort needed to protect the environment, Kuvawoga further stated.

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With determined rangers leading the way, communities like those in Mabale, Dete and Gwai are beginning to understand their vital role in safeguarding the natural world. After all, it isn’t just a race; it’s a movement toward preserving the planet for future generations.

In addition to the inspiring speeches and side celebrations, the event received significant support from various partners and community members including the Amalinda Safaris, the Friends of Hwange, the Gwayi Farmers Association, Wilderness Safaris, and many others who rallied behind the cause.

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More than 80 buffaloes drown in Namibia after falling off cliff

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BY BBC NEWS

More than 80 buffaloes have been killed after they trampled over each other and drowned in a river, Namibia’s environment and tourism department has said.

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The buffaloes were being chased by lions in neighbouring Botswana when they “fell from a deep cliff” into the Chobe River on the Namibian side of the border, it added in a statement.

Hundreds of buffaloes have been killed in similar circumstances in the past.

In one of the worst cases, around 400 died in 2018 after they ran into the river, which flows through Botswana’s Chobe National Park, a major tourist attraction known for its huge number of elephants, buffaloes and giraffes.

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An official at Namibia’s Kabulabula Conservancy told the BBC the herd of buffaloes was fleeing lions in Chobe National Park.

“Whenever they are chased by lions, they try to cross over into Namibia and start [trampling over] each other,” the conservancy’s Mbeha Tadeus said.

A spokesperson for the Namibian Environment, Forestry and Tourism Ministry, Ndeshipanda Hamunyela, confirmed that the animals came from Botswana, but could not say whether they were from Chobe National Park.

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Ms Hamunyela told the BBC that the meat from the carcasses would be “distributed to communities in the immediate area”.

In a video shared by the Namibian public broadcaster, NBC, on its X page, residents can be seen dividing the meat among themselves near the banks of the river.

The NBC put the number of buffaloes killed at 90, reporting that the incident happened at around 05:00 local time (07:00 GMT).

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