More than 350 elephant carcasses have been spotted in Botswana's Okavango Delta in the past two months. The first mysterious probe began in May with the death of 12 elephants. There are about 15,000 elephants … Under President Mokgweetsi Masisi, Botswana lifted the five-year trophy hunting ban introduced by former president Ian Khama, and auctioned off hunting packages in order to control the alleged over-population of elephants. Scientists have some theories on why hundreds of elephants are mysteriously dying in Botswana. The mass die-off in May and June was described as a “conservation disaster.” Three months later, most surviving elephants have fled. Why you can trust Sky News . The country has seen its elephant population grow from 80,000 in the 1990s to about 130,000 today. Poison . More than 350 elephants in Botswana have mysteriously died since May, in a phenomenon that some scientists have dubbed a "conservation disaster," and one that has evaded explanation. I feel confident enough, at this stage, … The head of Botswana’s wildlife agency says poaching has been ruled out because the dead elephants still had their tusks, CBS News reports. Earlier this year, more than 350 elephants mysteriously died in the Okavango delta in Botswana. Submission to Daily Maverick by Ron Thomson – ARTICLE.2. image/svg+xml. More than 350 elephants drop dead in mysterious mass 'die off' clustered around water holes in Botswana's Okavango Delta. Dr Cyril Taolo, acting director for Botswana’s department of wildlife and national parks, told the Guardian: “We are aware of the elephants that are dying. Botswana is home to more than 130,000 elephants, which represents approximately a third of Africa’s remaining savanna elephants. By Debora Patta Updated on: September 22, 2020 / 11:26 AM / CBS News More than 350 elephants have mysteriously died in northern Botswana over the past two months, which scientists describe as a "conservation disaster." Why Elephants are Dying in Botswana! Over the past month and a half or so, we’ve been keeping a close eye on an ongoing mystery that has been unfolding in Botswana. Over the last several weeks some 400 elephants have (so far this year) died mysterious deaths in Botswana; and the reports suggest that there are many more sick animals wandering about the game reserves. Botswana is home to the world’s largest elephant population, with around 130,000 individuals. 2020/07/03. Posted on September 16, 2020 by Guest Contributor2 Originally published in Talking Humanities of the University of London, School of Advanced Study and Africa Sustainable Conservation News Professor Keith Somerville investigates the mysterious deaths of more than 300 elephants in Zimbabwe and Botswana. It happened at the Okavango Delta known for grassy plains and a rich wildlife ecosystem.. Elephants are dying by the hundreds and nobody knows why. More than 350 elephants have died from unknown causes in Northern Botswana Why vultures and other scavengers were not impacted is another unanswered question. Hundreds of elephant carcasses have been found scattered across a remote, narrow region of the north — and poaching isn't to blame. Experts Aren’t Sure Why Botswana’s Elephants Are Dying by the Hundreds After being slowed by the global pandemic, tests are now underway. There's a crisis in Botswana. Conservationists and media houses report over 350 elephants have died. Botswana's elephants are literally dropping dead. Back in late June, it was revealed that more than 300 elephants had perished under mysterious circumstances, setting off alarms amongst conservationists around the world.. Elephants of all ages and both sexes have been dying — an indication more could die in the coming weeks, according to experts. Dr Cyril Taolo, acting director for Botswana’s department of wildlife and national parks, told the Guardian: “We are aware of the elephants that are dying. More than 350 elephants in Botswana have mysteriously died since May, in a phenomenon that some scientists have dubbed a "conservation disaster," and one that has evaded explanation. Botswana has the largest elephant population there and in Africa as a whole, with between 130,000 and 150,000, numbers fluctuating as elephants move across the KAZA region to find water and food. Hundreds of elephants have died mysteriously in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Elephants are regarded as a pest by some farmers. Image: The elephants have been dying in the Okavango Delta, northern Botswana. Scores of elephants in Northern Botswana are dying. (Handout via Reuters)Africa's overall elephant population is declining due to poaching. Herds move across the region throughout the year and it is not possible to give a definitive population figure for any one country, as numbers change with the seasons. Hundreds of elephants in Botswana may have died from toxic algae, officials say. More than 350 elephants have mysteriously died in Botswana over the past few months — and conservationists don’t know why. Botswana said on Friday it had received test results from samples sent to Zimbabwe to determine the cause of death of hundreds of elephants but … Poachers sometimes use poisons like cyanide to kill elephants before removing their tusks for ivory. Individuals of all ages and both sexes were affected, with many walking in circles before dying suddenly, collapsing on their faces. "This is totally unprecedented in terms of numbers of elephants dying in a single event unrelated to drought," conservation biologist Niall McCann, director of National Park Rescue, told the BBC , explaining disease has yet to be ruled out as a cause. Elephant numbers are declining in Africa but Botswana has been a rare success story. A dead elephant is seen in this undated handout image in … Why elephants are seeking refuge in Botswana The country that brought its elephants back from the brink "It is only elephants that are dying and nothing else," Dr McCann said. REUTERS/Handout via REUTERS . Africa's overall elephant population is declining due to poaching, but Botswana has been an exception, with elephant numbers growing to 130,000 from 80,000 in the late 1990s. More than 360 elephants have died in mysterious circumstances in Botswana in the past three months, according to local conservationists. 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