| The Baobab Tree—an oasis of
life
At the center of the new Madagascar exhibit is
a most unusual tree with a bloated trunk and a crown of
branches that look more like roots. A keystone to the dry
land ecosystems of Madagascar, the mighty baobab (pronounced
ba-o-bab) boasts girths up to 25 feet, with some species
reaching 100 feet tall.
Acting as a living water tower, its bottle-shaped trunk
of soft porous wood is able to soak up and store water from
sporadic downpours, holding tens of thousands of liters.
In the spiny forests and deserts of southern Madagascar,
these magnificent trees, which tower over dry thickets,
are an oasis of life, providing both food and shelter for
a myriad of amazing creatures.
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Hotspot dots
Lemurs the size of gorillas, pygmy hippos and
perhaps the largest bird that ever lived, the elephant bird,
have all disappeared from Madagascar since man first arrived
on the island some 2000 years ago. Yet there is much left
to marvel at and the tremendous responsibility to preserve
Madagascar’s rich biodiversity is shared by us all.
Look for the hotspot dots throughout the exhibit. At each
dot you'll learn conservation facts. |