The sudden death of hundreds of elephants was caused by toxins in waterholes, according to the Botswana government.
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“Our latest tests have identified cyanobacterial neurotoxins as a cause of death,” Mmadi Reuben of the government’s Department of Wildlife Management and National Parks said at a news conference.
The toxins are produced by cyanobacteria, better known as blue-green algae. These may be the result of last year’s severe drought followed by a lot of rain this season, said Cyril Taolo, director of the department. When they die, these algae can secrete a toxic substance.
But questions remain unanswered, such as why only elephants were affected. “We have a number of hypotheses,” says Reuben. “Elephants are the only animals that drink below the surface of the water and suck up the sludge, where these toxins are.”
Sudden death of 330 elephants in Botswana’s Okavango Delta puzzled scientists. Poachers were excluded because the tusks were still intact. Most of the deceased animals were found near water sources.
About 15,000 elephants live in the delta, about a tenth of the elephant stock in Botswana.
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