Mystery Death Of Elephants Known

Botswana, Africa – Then authorities in Botswana were baffled or wonder about mysterious deaths of number of elephants wherein they found more than 300 carcasses. But recently now they have known the cause of the mysterious deaths.

According to the findings of the authorities, the cause of mysterious death of many elephants in Botswana was a toxin produce by a bacteria in the water wherein the elephants have drink. It is toxin by a bacteria known as “ cyanobacteria”.

“Officials in Botswana say the deaths of hundreds of elephants in recent months which baffled and alarmed conservationists in the country were caused by toxins produced by cyanobacteria in water….."Our latest tests have detected cyanobacterial neurotoxins to be the cause of deaths. These are bacteria found in water," Mmadi Reuben, principal veterinary officer at the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, told a news conference on Monday.” (Aljazeera)

“Toxins made by microscopic algae in water caused the previously unexplained deaths of hundreds of elephants in Botswana, wildlife officials say.”(BBC)

Cyanobacteria is also known as blue-green algae which produces toxins. It can kill both animals and humans with the toxin it produces.

“The toxic bacteria can occur naturally in standing water and sometimes grow into large blooms known as blue-green algae.” (BBC)

“Botswana has the world's largest elephant population, estimated at 130,000.”(Aljazeera)

The main point : Mysterious deaths of many elephants in Botswana is recently known to be cause by the toxin produce by a bacteria called “cyanobacteria”