Update on Botswana Elephant Mystery
The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism are still investigating what caused the deaths of up to 356 elephants in the Seronga area of Botswana.
Poaching and anthrax have been ruled out as causes, and from the test results so far, it is thought that the elephants probably succumbed to natural toxins as the most likely cause. The results are not yet fully conclusive with tests still being processed in laboratories in South Africa, Canada, Zimbabwe and the United States.
“While there has not been any indication of fresh carcasses or signs that the mortality has spread beyond the initial area of concern, the district team on the ground will continue to monitor the situation, remove ivory from carcasses and take them to safe custody as well as destroy carcasses that are close to the villages and human settlements” – said the Acting Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Oduetse Koboto.
Ongoing investigations include an aerial survey and ground patrols which so far have not reported any further deaths in the area. The Ministry is working with CARACAL who are sample testing, processing and shipping the tests, along with Eco Exist who are collaboratively undertaking an aerial survey of the affected area.
Botswana has the world’s highest population of elephants. Elephant mortalities have been reported previously in the Country, but not on this scale. The last fatalities were caused by a natural anthrax outbreak in 2004. So far 281 carcasses have been verified, against an estimated population of between 16,000 to 18,000 elephants in the area.