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reBotswana authorities have identified cyanobacteria as a probable cause of the mass extinction of elephants in the country. Laboratory tests with blood samples from dead animals, as well as soil and water samples, showed that these toxic microorganisms killed the animals in the Okavango Delta in the northwest of the country, Mamadi Reuben, chief veterinarian of the country, said Monday. wildlife park authority.
Some types of cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are life-threatening toxins. This can have consequences for animals when they drink water, for example if the microbes there multiply on a large scale with the growth of algae.
Source: AFP
In recent months, a total of 330 dead elephants have been found in the Okavango Delta, said Cyril Taolo of the wildlife park authority. Poaching was ruled out from the start as a cause of death, as the corpses were found with their fangs intact. It is not yet clear why apparently no other species are affected, Reuben said.
The Okavango Delta is famous throughout the world for its spectacular landscapes and rich wildlife. Botswana in southern Africa has so far had a good reputation on the continent in terms of protecting nature and animals, but it sparked outrage last year because the ban on elephant hunting was lifted. Recently, at least 22 elephants were found dead in neighboring Zimbabwe. There the cause of death has not yet been clarified.
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