Gija Jumulu is a boab tree (Adansonia gregorii) which was transported 3,200 kilometres (2,000 mi) from Telegraph Creek, near Warmun in the Kimberley region of Western Australia to Kings Park in Perth.[1] This was the longest land journey of a similar sized tree in history.[2]

Gija Jumulu

The tree was removed to make way for the construction of a road bridge on Great Northern Highway[3] and was replanted at the Two Rivers Lookout, at the end of Forrest Carpark in Kings Park on 20 July 2008.[1]

The 36-tonne (79-thousand-pound) tree is estimated to be 750 years old and is named from the local indigenous people near Warmun, the Gija, and their word for boab trees, Jumulu. Boabs are believed to live up to 2,000 years.[4]

The tree received some superficial damage on its southern side trunk during its journey south which resulted in some bark becoming rotten. Arborists at Kings Park have removed the damaged material and expect the wounds to eventually disappear.[5] In 2016 the tree was assessed as healthy.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Boab marks 10 years". Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Government of Western Australia. 27 September 2018. Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  2. ^ "The Boab Journey". Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority. Archived from the original on 15 March 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  3. ^ "The Community and the Environment Meet". BGC In The Community Newsletter. Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  4. ^ "Big boab tree bound for Perth park". 9 News. 10 July 2008. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012.
  5. ^ "Perth's big boab is doing well (audio)". ABC News. 8 March 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  6. ^ Fernandes, Aaron (27 April 2016). "Popular boab tree is fighting fit". Phys.org. Science X network. Retrieved 14 October 2018.

31°57′44″S 115°50′28″E / 31.962224°S 115.841033°E / -31.962224; 115.841033