16 Jul 2020

The mysterious death of elephants, which are the source of attraction for tourists in the Okavango delta, has shocked animal enthusiasts all over the world . The tourism industry has helped to diversify Botswana’s economy from sources such as diamonds and beef, hence the elephants are of great value to the country.

The tourism sector has created many jobs for Batswana as well earn revenue for the country. The big five being Buffalo, Lion, Elephant, Rhino and Leopard are often an expected by tourists when they are on safari trips in the country.

Now the threat posed to, one of the country’s big five, the elephant, by an unknown disease in the Okavango region is worrisome.

So far, about 281 mortalities have been recorded in the areas surrounding the villages of Gunotsoga, Eretsha and Seronga since April 25, this year.

Principal veterinary officer at DWNP, Dr Wave Kashweeka said initially they suspected anthrax to be the cause of elephant’s deaths, but the results from the first set of tests done locally came out negative.

Dr Kashweeka noted that in their investigations, all dead elephants from which they took samples, had a common symptom of flabby heart.

He further noted that it was also observed that some of the elephants in the area had difficulties in walking or dragging their feet.

Also as part of the research, he said, they took samples from an anaesthetized elephant to compare with those from animals that were found dead.

He said further samples were taken sometimes in May 2020 and were taken to some laboratories in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Canada. He added that some of the results had already arrived from Zimbabwe for further scrutinizing.

Dr Kashweeka also said the investigating team engaged the community by conducting interviews for indigenous knowledge information.

As for environmental conservation, Dr Kashweeka said the DWNP had engaged casual labourers to help in burning the carcasses.

He said the department had so far removed tusks from 62 elephant carcasses out of the recorded 281 carcasses since April and were disinfected before storage.

Dr Kashweeka however indicated that some of the impediments in the exercise to remove tusks from elephant carcasses was the terrain, where the dead bodies were found, explaining that some of the areas were inaccessible.  

Kgosi Maedze Maedze of Seronga said he had spent most of childhood and old age in Seronga and he had never experienced such a calamity.

He however ruled out the possibility of deliberate poisoning by poachers, adding that if poisoning was the cause, other animals could be dying because they were drinking from the same water points.

With the elephant’s deaths coinciding with COVID-19 pandemic, some people have sounded concerns that the coronavirus could also be killing the elephants.

Principal veterinary officer at DWNP, Dr Mmadi Ruben could not rule out coronavirus as the cause, adding that the virus was new and complicated.

He told members of the media during a tour in Seronga that many aspects were being looked into, such as the environment or vegetation in which the animals existed. ENDS