360+ Elephants found dead for unknown reasons

[Adakam 2]

https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/02/africa/botswana-elephants-mystery-intl-hnk/index.html

Warning: The images are very sad and I guess graphic.

More than 360 elephants have died in mysterious circumstances in Botswana in the past three months, according to local conservationists.

Some carcasses were found clustered around waterholes, while others appeared to have died "falling flat on their faces," according to Niall McCann, director of conservation at United Kingdom charity National Park Rescue.

Live elephants seen nearby appeared physically weak, and one was walking in circles, unable to change direction, observers said. Other species in the area did not appear to have been affected by whatever struck down the elephants.

The Botswana government is testing samples from the dead elephants, but is yet to determine a cause of death.

'Appalling' case

The unusual number of elephant carcasses were first recorded at the start of May, McCann said.

Images obtained by CNN show many of the elephants lying "flat on their faces."

"It's appalling -- we need to know what the hell is going on," he said, adding that he couldn't recall another time when so many elephants had died from a mystery cause.

Botswana is home to 130,000 African elephants -- more than any other country on the continent. The Okavango Delta, where the carcasses were found, is home to around 10% of the country's elephants, McCann said.

Botswana's return to elephant hunting won't solve any problems, ex-President says

Last year, Botswana scrapped an elephant hunting ban it had in place in 2014, sparking international outcry. McCann said poaching could not be ruled out this time, although the tusks were still on the elephants.

"800 of them are lying around as a magnet for criminals," he added.

McCann said there were a number of possibilities for what could have caused the deaths, including an elephant-specific parasite -- or even Covid-19.

"What I would like to emphasize is that this has the potential to be a public health crisis," he said.

[JRCF29 8,230]

This is sad... if it’s COVID-19 it’s scary. Didn’t it show up in a tiger a few weeks back? Just as human death rates drop, animal rates are up (potentially?)  

[Adakam 2]

22 minutes ago, JRCF29 said:

This is sad... if it’s COVID-19 it’s scary. Didn’t it show up in a tiger a few weeks back? Just as human death rates drop, animal rates are up (potentially?)  

Im not 100% sure but the way that I understand it is that all animals can carry it, but the virus is only compatible with humans, so only in our bodies it can stay, get attached to our cells, and cause disease, where as with other animals, the virus just passes and does nothing/cant proliferate because the host doesnt have anything they can attach to.

So I guess that theres a chance that elephants could also be compatible with the virus and it attacks them.

 

[TimisaMonster 31,073]

If this is coronavirus...im done and will 100% believe this is a bioweapon...this virus is waaay to versatile, complex, and scary to be from nature...

[raragaga 8,119]

this is devastating 

[Twitter 14]

Omg and I love elephants. 

[EthelDee 552]

From what I know of Botswana, the northern portion has a lot of farmers. These farmers have been desperately trying to get the government to help with the Elephants, since they destroy the crops and occasionally kill people. The Botswanan government tried to sell hunting permits to help with the problem, but due to Covid, no one bought the permits. 

Just a guess, but I'd wager the local farmers have taken matters into their own hands and have been poisoning the watering holes. It would explain why the deaths have been so concentrated in that area.  

Its awful either way. Botswana has done an incredible job saving their elephant population. I hope they stop these killings. There has to be a way for the local population to coexist with the Elephants, I'm sure of it. 

[GagaSine 7,464]

Wow this is so frightening and sad!

[RAMROD 117,007]

My suspicions are they are getting poisoned. But in case I am wrong, I'd like to see what causes it. And I really hope not some disease that can be transferred to other animals and humans.

[FATCAT 60,886]

1 hour ago, TimisaMonster said:

If this is coronavirus...im done and will 100% believe this is a bioweapon...this virus is waaay to versatile, complex, and scary to be from nature...

I know it's easy to get wrapped up in the fanatics of it all, but this virus was not engineered. 

[TimisaMonster 31,073]

1 hour ago, FATCAT said:

I know it's easy to get wrapped up in the fanatics of it all, but this virus was not engineered. 

How are you so sure? 

[artd0me 841]

Makes me really sad. It’s just been half a year since I was travelling around Botswana and saw my first wild elephants 

[Helxig 45,332]

This makes me so sad   I love elephants

[NCgaga 4,345]

This definetely looks like poisoning. How awful and selfish- prob from the local farmers. 

[GovernmentHooker 220]

I wonder if it's a pandemic among elephants too?