Zimbabwe Now Recording Mysterious Elephant Deaths
After a spate of mysterious elephant deaths in Botswana in June, last week Zimbabwe reported that 22 elephants have died in unknown circumstances in a forest in the west of the Country.
The carcasses of both young and adult elephants were found in Pandamasue forest, located between Hwange National Park and Victoria Falls. Local authorities think the cause appears to be a bacterial infection but samples are now being analysed to determine the cause of death.
Zimbabwe National Parks spokesman, Tinashe Farawo, said the elephants were found with their tusks, which rules out poaching. “We can only ascertain the cause of death after the tests. But we have ruled out cyanide poisoning,” he said. “Only elephants were affected. No vultures or any other animals were affected.”
An aerial survey of the greater area surrounding the forest where the carcasses were found has been conducted by The Wild is Life Trust and @Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, with representatives from the Zimbabwe Forestry Commission and Zimparks.
Zimparks officials say that the biggest threat to their elephants is overpopulation. Lower rainfall this year could again leave these animals facing starvation after at least 200 died in 2019 from a lack of water and food. Zimbabwe is home to about 80 000 elephants, around a fifth of Africa’s total. Their numbers have declined sharply in recent years, mostly due to a combination of poaching and droughts.
Update on Botswana Test Results
Not all the test results have come through, but initial blood sample tests mostly indicate that a toxin caused the death. Botswana’s Ministry of Wildlife and Environment Permanent Secretary Oduetse Koboto says that it is not yet clear if the toxin is natural or man-made.
“We have received most of the results. A lot of variables that we suspected had tested negative. We ruled out any virus, no bacteria. Pathogens (are) also negative,” he said. “The only thing that we are waiting for is toxicology. What is evident is that we are now dealing with a poison.” They are waiting on one last batch of test results to come through from the United States before they can reach a conclusion.
Veterinarian Dr. Mbatshi Mazwinduma says a naturally occurring toxin would explain why no more elephants appear to be dying in the region. “In the period leading to June, remember this is a dry period, the amount of water is in low quantities. If it is because of a naturally occurring toxin, they would be in high concentration in the waters and those elephants that drink in particular spots get affected. With the rising waters of the Okavango in the last couple of weeks, the toxins are diluted and then washed out“.