The forest department said it had successfully grown around 200 baobab saplings in the city’s suburbs: Reports
HYDERABAD: The forest department said it had successfully grown around 200 baobab saplings in the city’s suburbs. Seeds collected from baobab flowers in the Chengicherla forest were sown in the Medipally forest. Some saplings have now grown to 7–8 feet.
The department used a seed-germination method that involved soaking seeds in hot water, keeping them moist in tissues and transferring them to polybags. Earlier attempts to grow the trees from cuttings did not yield the desired results, though officials have recently resumed trials using that method.
Some saplings have been distributed to the Nehru Zoological Park, KBR Park and other locations. Further planting will depend on propagation. The department is also planning a park dedicated to conserving baobab trees.
Uppal forest range officer Sharath Chandra Reddy told Deccan Chronicle that an urban forest park had been sanctioned on 50 hectares near Cherlapally railway station under the ‘Nagar Van’ scheme. “The forest department plans to develop it as a dedicated Baobab park to give the area a distinct identity and promote conservation,” he said.
The Medipally nursery is also to be shifted to the new site, where the trees will be conserved and showcased.
Baobabs are rare, long-lived trees native to Madagascar and mainland Africa. Of the eight African baobab species, Adansonia digitata is the one mostly found in Hyderabad and nearby areas.
Chengicherla reserve forest had four baobab trees, but one died from natural decay in March 2025, prompting the department to step up conservation efforts. The trees are also found at Vanasthalipuram HUDA Park, Hyderabad Golf Club, Kodad, Chapel Road, Nanakramguda, Aramgarh, ZPHS Manikonda and on some private properties.
Valued for their medicinal properties, baobabs can reach a girth of 20–25 metres. The famous tree at Golconda Fort, known as “Haathiyon ka Jaad” for its massive trunk, produces flowers and fruits rich in vitamin C.
