[ad_1]
Wildlife officials in Botswana said today that cyanobacteria were responsible for the many mysterious deaths of elephants in the country this year, which had caused concern among wildlife advocates.
Cyril Taolo, deputy director of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, told a news conference that the number of dead elephants had risen to 330 from 281 in the last report in July.
The first 169 elephants were found dead in early May in the Okavango River Delta, while the rest were found in mid-June. The only common denominator was that 70% of the dead elephants were found near water sources.
Scientists described the mysterious mass death of elephants as a disaster for the preservation of the natural environment, while the possible causes were considered poisoning or some unknown pathogen. In fact, poisoning by cyanide, a poison commonly used by poachers, was considered possible.
Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ
