Photo taken of SCP-XXXX prior to containment

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Object Class: Safe

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX is to be monitored by Foundation agents embedded in the ██████ National Park staff. In addition to regular park duties, agents are to keep non-Foundation individuals away from SCP-XXXX's location and research staff. Class-B amnesics have been approved for application on non-authorized individuals who approach SCP-XXXX's containment area.

An area of 100 meters around the epicenter of SCP-XXXX is to be cleared of human presence. In the event of an animal or human fatality near SCP-XXXX, containment teams are to secure the body or bodies safely through installed systems. By the authorization of O5, flame-units have been approved for use in the task of aiding in the retrieval of bodies. Once the bodies have been secured, they are to be transferred to Facility ██ for examination and incineration.

SCP-XXXX has been contained and transferred to Site ██ for further research purposes. It is to be watered 2 times per month via misting system and have access to a lighting array with day/night cycle timers. Environmental control systems are to maintain a temperature of 24 degrees Celsius.

If the misters require repair, 2 teams are to enter SCP-XXXX's containment unit. After environmental controls have lowered the temperature of the containment to 5 degrees Celsius, the first team (comprised exclusively of D-Class personnel) will be instructed to clear any low-hanging branches. Unbeknownst to this team, their task is to simply hold SCP-XXXX's attention while the second team moves in to work the repairs. Often this leads to the severe physical trauma and/or fatality of the first team. Utmost secrecy of their true purpose in these procedures is required when executing repairs.

If SCP-XXXX enters into an agitated state, environmental control systems are to lower the temperature of SCP-XXXX's containment until it ceases all hostile actions. Logs have indicated that SCP-XXXX has withstood temperatures of -██ degrees Celsius for 20 minutes before calming.

Description: SCP-XXXX is a 25 meter-tall Adansonia digitata, or baobab tree. In appearance, SCP-XXXX is no different than any other baobab tree. What makes SCP-XXXX unique is its ability to move and articulate its limbs at a rate that is atypical of this species of plant life, and its grossly hostile nature. Every branch, twig and stem of SCP-XXXX is capable of independent movement. Only the trunk remains stationary, which has led some researchers to believe that there may be some relevant new data to be found in its hollow.

During its Resting State, SCP-XXXX remains motionless for long periods of time. It will only move when directly interacted with, which often leads to violent thrashing as it seeks to grab hold of prey. During an active state, SCP-XXXX makes every attempt to grab onto any creatures or objects within its reach. Hostile actions will not cease until it calms on its own accord, or its surrounding temperatures are lowered to freezing levels.

Once a victim is ensnared, it is lifted from the ground and furled closer to the crown where each limb of the branch constricts around the prey and begins to squeeze tightly. SCP-XXXX has demonstrated incredible strength in this process, often capable of "popping" a victim. It will hold onto prey for long periods of time (longest on record: 3 days and 14 hours). While caught in its branches, the victim deprives SCP-XXXX any further use of its main branch.

Researchers have theorized that SCP-XXXX uses its victims as a form of sustenance. As the body is being squeezed, it is found that bodily fluids are drained onto the crown and collected in the hollow. Other researchers have proposed that SCP-XXXX actively seeks to fertilize its soil environment with decomposing flesh. There may be no carnivorous intentions at all, but merely a responsive defense mechanism. The feeding habits of SCP-XXXX are currently ongoing.

Testing has revealed SCP-XXXX possesses a high resilience to environmental changes - from ███ degrees Celsius to -██ degrees Celsius - while maintaining little to no epidermal or structural damage. While lowering the temperatures has proven to be an effective method of control, testing has shown that SCP-XXXX is still capable of inflicting damage even when appearing dormant.

███████, South Africa - 08/24/19██ We have located SCP-XXXX. It stands alone among a sparse patch of trees, about ██ kilometers from ███████. It is easily the tallest thing for a few kilometers around. The bodies of the poachers that Agent █████ had been pursuing, and the body of Agent █████ himself, are still at the base of SCP-XXXX. Physical trauma is apparent even from this distance. It is very quiet out here. Even the scavengers are avoiding the area. - Doctor Sanders

███████, South Africa - 08/24/19██ While the containment team was coordinating their efforts against SCP-XXXX, I visited the local villages for information. After interviewing elders from a number of villages, it seems as though SCP-XXXX has existed in the area's legend for quite some time. I correlated the main themes of these tales and pieced together their events. The legend speaks about the son of a powerful witch doctor, named Khama, who possessed a great evil in his heart. He killed many villagers in secret, and always eluded suspicion. And he always killed in the same manner - strangulation. He seemed to take a strange pleasure in ending a life with his hands. One night, Khama had raped and strangled the daughter of a village chief. There was no escape for him this time. He fled into the wilderness, pursued by the village chief and his men. They chased Khama out into the open plains, where three javelins were thrown and three pierced into the fugitive's back. The gods, who had been watching the story unfold, displayed their anger with a great bolt of lightning that struck the ground where Khama had fallen. A blinding light obscured the pursuers' vision. Once they recovered, they made a horrible discovery. Khama had disappeared. In the spot where he had been struck, a baobab began to grow. Before their very eyes the tree took its form. Tree or Man, Khama would be seen brought to justice. But when the chief and his men put fire to the tree, it would not burn. When they hacked axes against its bark, it would not yield. And all the while, the tree picked them off one by one. It crushed them and squeezed them, with branches that took on the shape of snakes. Only the chief remained, cursing and spitting at the tree that would not be felled. Only he was left untouched. For reasons not known, the tree refused to place any harm on the chief or his descendants. Isolated in the wilderness, the tree grew. Animals began to avoid the area. People began to go missing. And it was all attributed to the angry spirit of Khama, who eternally seeks the pleasure of causing death with his curling fingers. As of this time the only correlation between this story and SCP-XXXX can be found in its method of killing and general reference to its location. Ongoing research into the region's lore is highly recommended for the benefit of our understanding of SCP-XXXX. - Doctor Sanders

Addendum-1: After researchers performed an MRI scan on SCP-XXXX, it was revealed that a network of a human-like cardiovascular systems lead to the center hollow of the trunk. In the center of a well of blood rests a human skeleton with its arms stretched skyward. Its fingers have been infused with the inner membrane of the tree. Images have confirmed the presence of three unidentified protrusions embedded in the spine and ribs of the remains.