Mass elephant death mystery in Botswana

Hundreds of elephants have died mysteriously in Botswana’s famed Okavango Delta.

One of the dead elephants in Botswana.

Hundreds of elephants have died mysteriously in Botswana’s Okavango Delta.

The head of the country’s wildlife department on Thursday ruled out poaching as the tusks were found intact.

The landlocked southern African country has the world’s ­largest elephant population, estimated to be about 130,000.

“We have had a report of 356 dead elephants in the area north of the Okavango Delta and we have confirmed 275 so far,” department chief Cyril Taolo said.

He said the cause of the deaths was yet to be established, with ­anthrax having been ruled out. Similar deaths were ­reported in May when 12 carcasses were found in one week in two villages in the country’s northwest.

Wildlife conservation charity Elephants Without Borders suspects the elephants have been dying in the area for about three months.

According to a EWD report dated June 19, 2020, “70 per cent of elephant carcasses were considered recent, having died about a month ago, and 30 per cent of the carcasses appeared fresh, ranging from one day to two weeks old”.

“There was good evidence to show elephants of all ages and sex appear to be dying,” EWB said.

Several live elephants appeared to have been weak, lethargic and emaciated, with some showing signs of disorientation.

“One elephant was observed walking in circles, unable to change direction,” EWD said.

AFP