Botswana solves elephant mystery

Toxins kill elephants in Botswana - 5th October 2020

Earlier this year, 350 African elephants died in Botswana. Now, the government thinks it has the answer. The elephants drank water with toxins in.

Scientists were very confused. They had two ideas about why the elephants had died. Either somebody had killed them or they were killed by toxins.

To begin with, scientists didn't think water was the cause. Other animals drank from the same waterholes, but only the elephants died. This is because elephants drink a lot more water than other animals. They also spend a lot more time in the water. Almost 75 per cent of the dead elephants were found near waterholes.

Mmadi Reuben is a veterinary officer for the Botswana government. He tested the waterholes and found toxins in the water. The toxins are made by algae. Algae is a plant that lives in the water.

The government is worried because elephants are very important for the Botswana economy. Tourists visit the country to see elephants. The government depends on money from these tourists. Scientists are also worried because elephants could become extinct. They say the deaths are a disaster.

Climate change is making the situation worse. The amount of harmful algae around the world is increasing. The Botswana government will test elephants' waterholes during the next rainy season. It hopes to stop this disaster from happening again.