Published on December 5, 2023
6 minutes read
The mysterious deaths of numerous African savanna elephants in Botswana’s Okavango Delta in 2020 has raised concerns among conservationists. The death toll has continued to rise, with over 350 animals falling victim by July. The situation has become increasingly alarming due to the lack of understanding of what is causing the deaths.
The mystery deepened further with more elephants of the same species dying in northwestern Zimbabwe. “It was extremely fast,” says Chris Foggin, a vet with Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust.
African savanna elephants in the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area represent a significant portion of the remaining species. Given the numerous hazards to their survival, including a new disease, the situation is dire.
The cause of the die-offs has continued to baffle experts. Poaching and poisoning have been ruled out, leaving researchers to search for other answers. New research indicates that a bacteria called Bisgaard taxon 45 may be responsible for the deaths in Zimbabwe.
