Botswana: The cause of mysterious elephant deaths has been identified!

Botswana's Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) has announced that the cause of mysterious elephant deaths in the country has been identified. According to the DWNP, neurotoxin producing cyanobacteria species in pans are behind the death of some 330 elephants. Most deaths have been reported near the village of Seronga in the north of the Okavango Delta. Approximately 70% of the carcasses have been found near pans. The mortality stopped towards the end of June 2020, coinciding with the drying of pans. Other animals in the Okavango Delta appeared unharmed. The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) will continue to investigate eg why only elephants were affected and why all death appeared in that area of Botswana. We'll keep you posted!

Photo by Alex on Unsplash