Over 350 Elephants Die Of Mysterious Cause In Botswana

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Elephants mysteriously die in Botswana
More than 350 elephants have died in northern Botswana in a mysterious mass die-off which scientists describe as a ‘conservation disaster’.

A cluster of elephant deaths was first reported in the Okavango Delta in early May, with 169 dead by the end of the month.

According to local sources, by mid June, the number had more than doubled, with 70% of the deaths clustered around waterholes, BBC reports.

Locals said the deaths involve elephants of all ages and both sexes.

Dr Niall McCann, the director of conservation at UK-based charity National Park Rescue stated that;

This is a mass die-off on a level that has not been seen in a very, very long time. Outside of drought, I do not know of a die-off that has been this significant.

When we have got a mass die-off of elephants near human habitation at a time when wildlife disease is very much at the forefront of everyone’s minds, it seems extraordinary that the government has not sent the samples to a reputable lab.

If you look at the carcasses, some of them have fallen straight on their face, indicating they died very quickly. Others are obviously dying more slowly, like the ones that are wandering around. So it is very difficult to say what this toxin is.

Over 350 elephants in Botswana mysteriously die
The Botswana government has not yet tested samples so there is yet to be information on the cause of deaths or whether they could pose a risk to human health.

Locals in the area had reported seeing the elephants walking in circles, suggesting they have been neurologically impaired either by a poison or a pathogen named Anthrax which has been ruled out.

COVID-19 has also been mentioned as a possible cause of the mysterious deaths, but it is considered unlikely.

Several live elephants appeared weak and emaciated, suggesting more will die in the coming weeks.

According to conservationists, the true number of deaths is likely to be even higher because carcasses can be difficult to spot.

Cyanide poisoning – often used by poachers in Zimbabwe – remains a possibility, but scavenging animals do not seem to be dying around the carcasses.

Local reports said there were fewer vultures on carcasses of dead elephants than expected, but none showed signs of abnormal behaviour.

McCann said;

There is no precedent for this being a natural phenomenon but without proper testing, it will never be known.

You see elephants as assets of the country. They are the diamonds wandering around the Okavango delta. It is a conservation disaster – it speaks of a country that is failing to protect its most valuable resource.

Dr Cyril Taolo, acting director for Botswana’s department of wildlife and national parks, told the Guardian;

We are aware of the elephants that are dying. Out of the 350 animals we have confirmed 280 of those animals. We are still in the process of confirming the rest.

There are about 15,000 elephants in the delta, 10% of the country’s total. Eco-tourism contributes between 10-12% of Botswana’s GDP, second only to diamonds.

See some photos below;

 

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