Elephant die-off: Mystery in Botswana soon solved?

A mysterious elephant die-off in the southern African safari paradise of Botswana is puzzling conservationists and the government alike.

In recent weeks, according to official figures, 275 dead elephants have been counted in the north-western Okavango Delta.

Hundreds of dead elephants in the Okavango Delta

Other reports from wildlife protection groups speak of as many as 356 carcasses. Poaching has been ruled out, as the dead animals were found with their tusks intact. According to the authorities, poisoning is also considered unlikely as a cause of the elephant die-off. In the marshy terrain, they are increasingly relying on aerial searches, as even more dead animals are feared.

The deaths are concentrated in an area of 8’000 square kilometres, home to approximately 18’000 elephants.

Carcasses are spattered with droppings from vultures that had eaten some of the flesh, and marked with red paint by officials documenting confirmed carcasses.

Botswana has so far enjoyed a strong reputation in Africa in terms of nature and animal protection and is popular with tourists. However, the previous year had seen international outrage over the lifting of the elephant hunting ban . While elephant numbers are declining in many regions of Africa, they have risen in this landlocked country from around 50’000 in 1991 to well over 130’000 animals, according to official figures.

«We cannot currently rule anything out; it could be a virus, vegetation, or overnutrition following last year's drought. We have asked the municipality not to interact with the carcasses», said Mmadi Reuben, Chief Veterinarian of the Ministry of Wildlife and National Parks.

Coronavirus or viral infection as the cause?

So did the elephants fall victim to the coronavirus? Most likely not, believes Mark Hiley of the organisation National Park Rescue. Although several documented cases in New York have shown that tigers in captivity contracted Covid-19, there is no proven evidence that the virus can be transmitted to elephants, Hiley told the “New York Times”.

Chris Thouless, Head of Research at the organisation Save the Elephants in Kenya, told the newspaper that such mass die-offs — tragic as they may be — are part of nature. Due to the growing elephant population, they would even increase in certain regions of the world (such as the Okavango Delta) in the coming years. Thouless believes the elephants may have contracted encephalomyocarditis, a viral infection that once ravaged neighbouring South Africa and killed dozens of elephants. The species extinction is one of the greatest challenges of our time.

Officials expect test results this week from samples sent to South Africa and Canada.