Disturbing reports of the mass death of an elephant from Botswana have emerged over the past two months, with more than 350 elephant bodies spotted since May. Some elephants and their faces were found lying down, indicating sudden death.
Most of the elephant bodies are located around water sources in the northern parts of Okavango Delta, an elephant protected area, along with a study site called "NG11". Similar deaths were not recorded in neighboring Namibia.
Cache of anthrax is innocent
Botswana has the largest number of "Loxodonta africana" elephants in the world with more than 135,000 elephants. But these majestic animals all over the world are on the decline.
Fishermen are known to use cyanide to poison elephants in Zimbabwe, and this was considered improbable because the elephants remained intact with their full tusks, and no remains of beings such as hyenas, lions, and eagles were found after eating the bodies.
Last year, more than 100 elephants had died in Botswana due to suspected anthrax outbreaks, some of which may have succumbed to drought conditions. But the government believes that anthrax is not the cause of this case.
The Guardian's Phoebe Weston reported that local witnesses saw some elephants roaming in circles. This behavior indicates that there was something affecting the nerves of these animals.
Results of samples were delayed
"We have sent samples for testing and we expect the results for the next two weeks or so," Cyril Tao, Acting Director of Wildlife and National Parks in Botswana told the newspaper, referring to the delayed results of the labs' busyness with COFED-19 tests.
Peter Cat, an environmentalist, director of LionAid and other environmentalists, have expressed concerns about the time these results take.
"Months after the first bodies were discovered, there is as yet no answer to why so many elephants have died," Kat wrote in an online blog, criticizing the Botswana government for being slow to protect animals of vital importance to tourism, which is its second largest industry.
The sudden nature of some elephant deaths has made the ecologist feel at least concerned that the poison may be the cause despite the absence of infections in other species.
Elephants and humans
Until recently, Botswana was one of the safest countries for these vulnerable animals, but in 2019 scientists reported a rise in the illegal hunting of elephants.
Last year, the government lifted the ban on hunting elephants, citing the growing conflict between elephants and humans as a reason.
"This is unprecedented in terms of the number of elephants that die in one event that has nothing to do with drought," said Nial McCann, a conservation biologist and rescue director for the National Park.
It is an environmental disaster, but it is likely to be a public health crisis. "We need answers not only for other elephants, but also to ensure our protection as human beings," he added.