A new report reveals that the mysterious deaths of over 350 elephants in Botswana were likely caused by drinking toxic water.
According to The Guardian, the mass deaths of elephants in Botswana’s Okavango Delta were described as a mysterious catastrophic event, as elephants of all ages were seen walking in circles before collapsing and dying.
The first elephant carcasses were found in northeastern Botswana in May and June 2020, and the cause of death was initially suspected to be cyanide poisoning or an unknown disease.
According to lead researcher David Lomu, this incident represents the largest documented case of elephant deaths, the exact cause of which had not been determined, causing significant concern among experts.
However, a new study published in the journal Science of the Total Environment reveals that the elephants were poisoned by drinking water contaminated with blue-green algae or possibly toxic plants infected with cyanobacteria.
