Mysterious deaths of Botswana elephants rose to 275

The number of elephants found dead in Botswana's Okavango Panhandle in Southern Africa has risen to 275 from 154 reported two weeks ago. Everyone is puzzled with the elephants sudden death. The authorities are investigating the unexplained deaths over the past months.

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Its been a month since the first sighting of a dead elephant in Okavango Panhandle region. Poaching has been ruled out as the carcasses were found intact.

“Three laboratories in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Canada have been identified to process the samples taken from the dead elephants,” said the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism.

In early May, Elephants without Borders (EWB), a conservation organization, reported that its own aerial survey showed elephants of all ages appeared to be dying.

"Several live elephants that we observed appeared to be weak, lethargic and emaciated. Some elephants appeared disorientated, had difficulty walking, showed signs of partial paralysis or a limp," EWB director Mike Chase said in a report.

“One elephant was observed walking in circles, unable to change direction although being encouraged by other herd members,” Mike added.

In the report, urgent action was needed to establish if the deaths were caused by disease or poisoning.

Africa's overall elephant population is decreasing due to poaching. Except in Botswana wherein it is a home to almost a third of the continent's elephants, the numbers increase to 130,000 from 80,000 in the late 1990s. But to some farmers elephants are seen as a nuisance because elephants destroys their crops.

Big game hunting in May 2019 was temporarily allowed for 5 years by President Mokgweetsi Masisi but the hunting season failed to start in April as many hunters can't enter Botswana because of the global travel restrictions caused by coronavirus.