Hundreds of elephants drop dead in mysterious ‘mass die-off’

More than 350 elephants have died of unknown causes in Botswana in what is being described as a ‘conservation disaster’.

Aerial photos show carcasses scattered across the Okavango Delta and other northern parts of the country after a cluster of ‘mass die-offs’.

The first were reported in May when 169 elephants died in a short period at the Okavango Delta, a vast wildlife habitat. That number had almost doubled by mid-June, with 70% of the deaths occurring around waterholes, according to local sources.

Botswana’s government has not yet tested the animals’ bodies for traces of poison or pathogens but anthrax – initially considered the most likely cause – has been ruled out. Samples of some have been sent to an unnamed country for testing but the results are not back, meaning there is no information on what is causing the deaths or whether they could pose a risk to human health.

Cyanide poisoning has previously been used by poachers in Zimbabwe. However, this is thought to be unlikely as the elephants’ tusks have not been removed and scavenging animals have not been dying at the carcasses.

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Director of conservation at UK-based National Park Rescue, Dr Niall McCann told The Guardian: ‘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.’

Scientists have urged the government to test the animals to ensure they do not pose a risk to human life amid fears they could be carrying a disease of pandemic potential.

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

Dr McCann said: ‘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.

‘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’.

There are fears more elephants will die in the coming weeks, with locals reporting some looking week and emancipated.

Dr McCann said Covid-19 remains a possibility, but is unlikely. There have been no reports of elephant deaths in neighbouring countries.

He described the die-offs as a ‘conservation disaster’ that could also become a ‘public health crisis’ if the government didn’t act quickly, accusing ministers of failing to protect Botswana’s ‘most valuable resource’.

The country is home to a third of Africa’s elephants and has grown a population of 80,000 to 130,000 because of well-managed reserves. 10% of the country’s total are in the delta, one of Botswana’s most popular attractions for tourists.

Eco-tourism contributes between 10-12% of Botswana’s GDP, second only to diamonds.

In response to  The Guardian, Dr Cyril Taolo, acting director for Botswana’s department of wildlife and national parks said: ‘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.’

He blamed coronavirus restrictions for the slow processing of the elephant’s tests and said the tests have been sent to another country for analysis, but declined to say where.

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