The pictures had made the tour of the world. In Botswana, more than 350 elephants were killed in the space of a few weeks the beginning of may although no explanation could be found. According to recent tests done on the carcasses of animals, a natural toxin is the cause of their death, reports Reuters. Several tracks had been considered, such as a poisoning or a pathogen is unknown.
according To Cyril Taolo, director of the national parks and wildlife of Botswana, it is unlikely that a disease has led to the disappearance of the pachyderms. Nearly two months after the grim discovery, the country’s authorities think they have finally found the cause. “We received more test results from other countries, including the United States, and for the time being, the results show that it is quite unlikely that the cause of death of elephants can be an infectious pathogen,” said Cyril Taolo. Botswana had taken samples to send to laboratories located in South Africa, Zimbabwe and the United States.
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tests still waiting
” We are now focusing on the investigation of broader environmental factors such as toxins produced naturally by the bacteria present in the environment, like rivers “, he adds. The director of the national and of the wildlife of Botswana then details the identification process engaged by the authorities.
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” It’s a game of elimination, where we start by testing the most common causes, and then we move on to the less common. Next, we need to verify and corroborate these results from various laboratory tests. We hope to provide an update more concrete soon, ” said Cyril Taolo. In Botswana, more than 135 000 elephants that share the territory. The conservationists have a time feared that the decimation massive spreads even more and make other victims.
