Over 350 Elephants Mysteriously Collapsed and Died in Botswana – Report
Between May and July 2020, over 350 elephants in Botswana mysteriously collapsed and died, with 70% of the animals found near waterholes contaminated with toxic cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae.
Scientists now believe that neurotoxins from cyanobacteria were the primary cause of these tragic deaths. These single-celled organisms produce toxins that can attack the nervous system, skin, or liver of animals, and mass die-offs of fish and birds have been linked to them in the past. Elephants may be especially vulnerable due to their frequent bathing and large water intake from these contaminated waterholes.
Experts suggest that climate change could have contributed to the toxic blooms, as cyanobacteria thrive during heatwaves, outcompeting other algae.
However, uncertainties remain—scientists are unsure why no other species were affected and why this phenomenon occurred only in specific areas.
While the evidence points to cyanobacterial toxins, further lab analysis of samples from the dead elephants is needed to confirm the cause. Botswana’s elephant population, the largest in Africa at around 130,000, remains under close observation as scientists continue their investigation.
