[UCANSEE2]

” It bolsters the view that her species - Australopithecus afarensis - spent at least some of its life in the trees.”

I would suggest that the time spent ‘in trees’ was merely a defensive tactic to escape predators. She likely went way out on a limb trying to escape a tiger, and the limb broke.

[rfreedom4u]

out on a limb trying to escape a tiger, and the limb broke

Wouldn’t the tiger (or whatever) simply have eaten her afterward?

[Blue Jays]

Makes sense from a defensive perspective.
Likely fleeing a threat and had misstep and/or encountered weak limb.