The Green Planet

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Narrator

These huge trees are a focus for animals of all kinds. (elephant growls) And they're particularly important for elephants. In the wet season, they eat the baobab's fruit and disperse the seeds in their dung. Now, as the dry season begins, they migrate to distant watering holes. The baobabs have damp inner wood, and the elephants use it to quench their thirst on the journey. (elephant rumbles) (tree bark crackles) (elephant chews) (elephant growls) This relationship can only work because baobabs have a remarkable ability to heal themselves. (solemn music) (elephant rumbles lengthily) Between each damaging attack, they expand their spongy wood and grow new skin. And they've done this time and time again over centuries. Today, however, it's harder for the baobabs to recover, as dry seasons become longer and drier due to climate change. Not only that, but the elephants are forced to take ever more wood from the trees in order to survive. In some parts of Africa, many of the largest and oldest baobabs have fallen in the last decade. (solemn music)