Hundreds of elephants were found dead in the African country of Botswana in what scientists are calling a “conservation disaster.” More than 350 of the animals mysteriously died en masse, but it’s still unclear what exactly happened to them. This is absolutely devastating for the elephant population in the country as well as for conservation efforts that have attempted to boost the population and protect it from poachers.
- The mysterious deaths began in early May. By the end of the month, the number of dead elephants had risen to 169, prompting serious concern. It’s estimated that 70% of the deaths have taken place near a watering source, raising questions as to whether a parasite or other illness in the water may have caused the deaths.
- Some believe the elephants may have died of some form of poisoning. Jumping off the earlier point, it’s worth mentioning that other animals hadn’t touched the corpses of the elephants, which lends credence to the theory that the elephants were poisoned in some way.
- Nothing like this has been seen in a very long time. Speaking to The Guardian, Niall McCann, the director of conservation at UK-based charity National Park Rescue, explained, “This is a mass die-off on a level that hasn’t been seen in a very, very long time. Outside of drought, I don’t know of a die-off that has been this significant.”
- No research has been done into the deaths just yet. Authorities in Botswana have not tested samples from the elephants due to coronavirus, which has meant that labs and those capable of running the tests are currently in short supply. “When we’ve 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,” McCann criticized.
- Whatever happened to these beautiful creatures, it doesn’t sound pleasant. “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’s very difficult to say what this toxin is,” McCann said. Hopefully authorities are able to uncover the truth sometime soon so these animals can be protected and helped.
