Drivers may have poisoned ancient tree
By Yang Jian |
February 3, 2012, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
DRIVERS are suspected of poisoning an ancient tree in southwest Shanghai, triggering a police investigation.
Leaves on the 7-meter-tall box tree - 10 times taller than most specimens in the city - started dying in December, said farmer Cai Zhigang, owner of the tree in Minhang District.
Cai, aged 58, said the tree that stands in front of his house was planted by his ancestors about 300 years ago and has passed through the generations.
"First, I noticed the grass around the tree had died off and then the tree's leaves yellowed and fell off," he said.
Experts checked the soil around the tree and found high concentrations of hydrochloric acid, which is fatal to plants.
Cai speculated that motorists with a grudge may have poisoned the tree.
He said some car owners living in the area had complained that branches scraped their vehicles as they drove past.
Police are investigating.
Cai reckons the tree is at least 300 years old. He said his grandfather often climbed it when he was a child and told him it was very tall then.
An official with the local greenery and public sanitation authority said they would invite experts to try to save the tree and, if its age could be determined, give it protected status.
Leaves on the 7-meter-tall box tree - 10 times taller than most specimens in the city - started dying in December, said farmer Cai Zhigang, owner of the tree in Minhang District.
Cai, aged 58, said the tree that stands in front of his house was planted by his ancestors about 300 years ago and has passed through the generations.
"First, I noticed the grass around the tree had died off and then the tree's leaves yellowed and fell off," he said.
Experts checked the soil around the tree and found high concentrations of hydrochloric acid, which is fatal to plants.
Cai speculated that motorists with a grudge may have poisoned the tree.
He said some car owners living in the area had complained that branches scraped their vehicles as they drove past.
Police are investigating.
Cai reckons the tree is at least 300 years old. He said his grandfather often climbed it when he was a child and told him it was very tall then.
An official with the local greenery and public sanitation authority said they would invite experts to try to save the tree and, if its age could be determined, give it protected status.
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