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

01:00no doubt numbered.

01:04The cockies nature.