Canberra’s ‘axe attack’ tree mystery solved with some hungry culprits

Locals thought vandals were to blame for deep gashes in a Canberra tree... but nature had a cheekier explanation.

Transcript

00:00Calumbray is home to some amazing trees including old growth beauties, smiling faces, and of

00:13course Canberra's famous leaning tree.

00:20But it's a scraggy gum tree that's currently got tongues wagging.

00:26What caused the damage to this trunk?

00:30While some suggest it must be man-made from an axe or tow rope, its origins are almost

00:38definitely the result of yellow-tailed black cockatoos digging for cossed moth larvae which

00:46tunnel deep inside the tree, especially in stressed eucalypts like this one.

00:54While the cockies no doubt enjoyed their tasty treat, now ring-barked the tree's days are

01:01no doubt numbered.

01:04Such is nature.

01:12What happened to me?

01:13How can I?

01:15How can I?

01:17How can I?

01:19I can't.

01:20I can't.

01:21I can't.

01:22I can't.

01:23I can't.