Hundreds of people take turns sleeping in the forest to guard the "pillar supporting the sky"

For generations, the Xo Dang people have passed down word of mouth about the giant Sao Cat tree located in Dak Cho village, Ngoc Tu commune, Dak To district, Kon Tum, which is revered as "the pillar supporting the sky".

Because it is a valuable tree of the village, every week, the Xơ Đăng people regularly join the forest protection force, taking turns hanging hammocks to guard day and night. Illegal loggers have tried many times to cut down the tree but failed.

Every week, forest rangers and local people take turns going up the mountain to patrol and guard the giant star anise tree (Photo: Chi Anh).

The Sao Cat tree is located about 5km from Dak Cho village, under the management of Dak To Forestry Company Limited. To visit this sacred tree, we had to travel about 2 hours by motorbike and walk up many steep mountains.

Mr. A Thai, Deputy Head of Branch 2 (Dak To Forestry One Member Co., Ltd.), said: "Every week, the unit coordinates with the community to patrol and protect the forest. Because the road is long and dangerous, we often stop to rest overnight under this giant tree. Each forest patrol trip in this area usually lasts 3-5 nights."

The sand star tree is more than 4m in diameter, 35m high and it takes more than 10 adults to hug the trunk (Photo: Chi Anh).

According to Mr. Thai, this sand star tree has a diameter of more than 4m, is 35m high and it takes more than 10 adults to hug the trunk. This is the sand star tree with the largest trunk diameter in the forest area managed by the company.

Participating in protecting the forest, Mr. A Gon (38 years old) confided: "No one in Dak Cho village can remember when the Sao Cat tree appeared. They only know that for generations, when they went to the forest to hunt and gather, they saw the tree standing tall like a "pillar supporting the sky" here. When villagers go to the forest, they often stop here to burn incense, praying for a safe trip and good luck.

Villagers going to the forest often stop by the giant star anise tree to burn incense, praying for a safe trip and good luck (Photo: Chi Anh).

"I heard that about 30 years ago, a group of illegal loggers secretly tried to cut down the Sao Cat tree. For some reason, the saw blade of the illegal loggers only cut into the tree trunk about a hand span and then bounced back, unable to go any deeper. Knowing that the giant Sao Cat tree was in danger of being cut down, the people of Dak Cho village came together to chase away the illegal loggers to protect the sacred tree," said Mr. A Gon.

Traces of the felling 30 years ago are still imprinted on the trunk of the giant tree. About 1 meter above the ground, there are still 3 large saw marks, deeply carved into the trunk. People put incense burners in the saw marks to express their gratitude and respect to the forest god.

Young men from nearly a hundred households gathered under the Sao Cat tree and signed a commitment to protect the forest (Photo: Dak To Forestry).

In December 2023, representatives of nearly 100 households from six communes: Ngoc Tu, Dak Ro Nga, Dak Tram (Dak To district), Dak To Can, Dak Ro Ong, Dak Sao (Tu Mo Rong district) and Dak To Forestry One Member Co., Ltd. gathered under this tree to sign a commitment to protect the forest. The Sao Cat tree is a vivid proof of the commitment.

For many years, this sand star tree has been absolutely protected by the people, local authorities and the company. The force regularly organizes patrol groups to protect the tree 24/7, to avoid bad guys from watching.

The ancient sand star tree stands tall, protecting the people and forest of Dak Cho village (Photo: Chi Anh).

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Chung, Director of Dak To Forestry One Member Co., Ltd., said: "Up to now, no unit has measured, checked, or analyzed the age of this star sand tree. It is estimated that the growth analysis from the center of the tree is more than 2,000 ly, with a conventional age of 250 years or more. Local people still call it the thousand-year-old star tree."

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/an-sinh/tram-nguoi-thay-nhau-ngu-rung-canh-giu-cot-chong-troi-20240509125228412.htm