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BOTSWANA-ANIMAL
Botswana’s mass elephant deaths caused by bacteria: govt
GABORONE, Botswana, Sept 21, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Hundreds of elephants that
died mysteriously in Botswana’s famed Okavango Delta succumbed to
cyanobacteria poisoning, the wildlife department revealed on Monday.
The landlocked southern African country boasts the world’s largest
elephant population, estimated at around 130,000.
More than 300 of the pachyderms have mysteriously died since March, with
their intact tusks ruling out the hypothesis that they were killed by
poachers.
“The deaths were caused by poisoning due to cyanobacteria which was
growing in pans” or watering holes, the principal veterinary officer of the
Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Mmadi Reuben, told reporters.
Reuben said the deaths had “stopped towards the end of June 2020,
coinciding with the drying of pans.”
A first report of unusual elephant deaths on April 25 identified cases
near Seronga village, and numbers began escalating the following month.
According to the wildlife authorities around 330 animals have died and
blood tests were consistent with the finding that a species of cyanobacteria
that produces neurotoxins was the cause.
Tests were conducted at specialist laboratories in South Africa, Canada,
Zimbabwe and the United States.
Officials have ruled out anthrax or human involvement such as poaching,
according to Cyril Taolo, deputy director of Department of Wildlife and
National Parks.
The government said it was continuing studies into the occurrence of the
bacteria.
In the winter, elephants hydrate themselves mainly by eating roots and
bark, especially of the baobab tree.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1735 hrs