26th July 2020
Sello Motseta
Despite examining samples of dead elephants the Botswana National Veterinary Laboratory has still not been able to establish the causes of death for the 281 elephant carcasses found along the Seronga floodplain and further into the mopane woodlands to the north.
These elephants formed the majority of the 356 carcasses reported by Elephants without Borders(EWB) that have died mysteriously in the northern parts of the country.
Although poaching and anthrax have already been ruled out as the likely cause of death, a number of other possibilities are now being examined such as a novel virus and poisoning, with help from foreign laboratories in South Africa, Zimbabwe, United Kingdom and the United States.
Dr. Oduetse Koboto, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, said “While there has not been any indication of fresh carcasses or signs that the mortality has spread beyond the initial area of concern, the district team on the ground will continue to monitor the situation, remove ivory from carcasses and take them to safe custody as well as destroy carcasses that are close to the villages and human settlements.”
He said, “The affected area includes a swampy area south of Eretsha, Gudigwa and Gunutsoga. Animals observed in this area were dying in the floodplains and islands within the |delta in NG 12. Accessibility to these areas is either by air or use of an airboat which can traverse the floodplains effectively. Another section of the affected area is a sandy and thick Mophane/Terminalia woodlands which cannot be accessed by a vehicle.”
The Department of Wildlife and National Parks((DWNP) has partnered with Professor of Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation at Virginia tech in the United States to process samples to harvest DNA and other aliquots for export to external laboratories.
The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States is providing the sampling kits and guidance on sampling techniques for different diseases. Results from Zimbabwe and some from South Africa have already been received and are currently being analysed.
A post mortem performed on a young elephant in the area on the 12th May 2020 found a high parasitic burden throughout the gut of the animal.
It could not however establish a definitive cause of death.
“A joint aerial survey team comprising of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks and Eco-exist scientists have completed work in two sections of the survey area and part of a third area. The team is expected to complete the aerial survey by 30th July 29020,” said Koboto.
