More than 350 elephants have mysteriously died in Botswana over the past two months, which scientists describe as a 'conservation disaster.' Botswanans view the loss as a blow to the national tourism economy and in many places, a loss to the community.
"It's the biggest thing that's happened to elephants in a very, very long time," Dr Niall McCann, co-founder of UK-based charity National Park Rescue, told ABC News."Outside of droughts in the 1970s I don't know of a die-off that has been this significant."
This image provided on July 3, 2020, courtesy of the National Park Rescue charity shows the carcass of one of the many elephants which have died mysteriously in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. "Samples from the carcasses, environmental samples from soil and water as well as samples from the live animals have been sent to the regional laboratories and abroad," explained Reuben."We are awaiting results and continuing the dialogue."
The investigation team, equipped with complete PPE, he said, continues to treat the disease with necessary precautions as it's not clear if it could transmitted to humans. The government has also issued a warning to the local community to stay away from the carcasses.
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