What is going on with the elephants in Botswana?

[Soubriquet]

Why are so many dying?

I hope they find out the cause and then able to treat it because it’s sad to see these beautiful animals just dying link

Dh for some reason thinks it Covid

I was so dismayed to read that last night. Such a rotten shame. Like you OP I really do hope they find out what’s killing them and take steps to stop whatever it is ASAP. 🐘🐘🐘

That's awful!

I very much hope whatever is causing it is found while there is still time for the population to recover.

For the families of the animals though this will be devastating, elephants grieve and matriarchs especially are incredibly important because they are the ones who pass on the knowledge elephants need later so if too many of the older ones die before they can pass on the knowledge the younger ones need that could even if they survive lead to massive issue for the future of the herd!

I wonder if it could be something to do with covid? Obviously I'm absolutely not an expert so I'm just uneducatedly musing.

Oh how horrible.

Oh gosh, how dreadful. What on earth is going on?!

I watched a documentary recently where locals in Botswana consider elephants to be very dangerous. Elephants have killed a lot of their people so they see them as the enemy then kill them.
Terribly sad for both sides.

Seems like it's some sort of disease. 2020 really is shaping up to be the year of the plagues.

It’s tragic.

Government scientists sound confident that it isn’t either of the two likeliest options: anthrax (which killed around 100 elephants in an outbreak in the country last year) or poison. The description of affected animals’ behaviour does suggest something neurological. Another pathogen? Another zoonotic one?

This is so sad. I hope they start to understand what is causing it.

I spent time in the Okavango Delta/Botswana a few years ago and the elephants were so beautiful. I remember hearing that there were issues with the massive elephant population destroying so much land and many accidents involving people. I think they described Botswana as the elephants safe place as they weren't as protected in the surrounding countries.

2020 really does keep giving

I was just reading about this, so sad. It didnt look like poison or hunters they said.
Such amazing animals

This is awful

@Ginkypig

That's awful!

I very much hope whatever is causing it is found while there is still time for the population to recover.

For the families of the animals though this will be devastating, elephants grieve and matriarchs especially are incredibly important because they are the ones who pass on the knowledge elephants need later so if too many of the older ones die before they can pass on the knowledge the younger ones need that could even if they survive lead to massive issue for the future of the herd!

I wonder if it could be something to do with covid? Obviously I'm absolutely not an expert so I'm just uneducatedly musing.

Good point about the young will suffer if all the older elephants die

It’s been proven young Male bulls were clueless on how to interact with females after the older males were killed by poaching

They hadn’t seen enough interactions and were unusually aggressive as they had the need to breed but couldn’t because their manners were awful and the females kept chasing them off.

The matriarchs know where the food and water is at certain times of the year. If they die, that information can’t be passed down and future elephants could die from having no food and water when it’s needed

"It’s been proven young Male bulls were clueless on how to interact with females after the older males were killed by poaching

They hadn’t seen enough interactions and were unusually aggressive as they had the need to breed but couldn’t because their manners were awful and the females kept chasing them off."

And what does that remind us of.

this is so sad, yesterday I watch Ariel Africa which featured the elephants in Botswana quite a bit. it's so awful.