Mysterious Botswana Elephant Die-Off May Have Been Caused By New Disease, Expert Says

A conservation expert stated that a new disease might have caused the mysterious deaths of hundreds of elephants in Botswana. The expert warned that if a pathogen killed the animals, it could also pose a risk to humans.

The mass die-off of elephants in Botswana was confirmed earlier this month after local authorities reported that about 300 elephants have already died in the country. Authorities ruled out poaching as a possible cause of death since the tusks of the animals were intact when they died.

Another possible cause that local agencies are looking into is poisoning caused by a toxic chemical. As the agencies carry out their investigations, experts presented their own theories in an attempt to explain the mysterious deaths of the elephants.

Niall McCann of the conservation charity National Park Rescue believes that a disease might be the cause of the mysterious die-off.

“What we do know is that affected elephants appear to be suffering from compromised motor function, suggesting that this thing, whatever it is, affects the central nervous system in some way,” he told Newsweek.

McCann’s statement coincides with eyewitness reports stating that some of the elephants walked in circles before falling face-first to the ground and dying. This strange behavior could be a sign of a neurological impairment caused by a new pathogen.

According to McCann, if a new type of disease is causing the elephants to die, he warned that this pathogen could affect humans. He noted that the disease could trigger a zoonotic event, which occurs when a pathogen that infects animals spreads to humans.

“If this is a toxin or a poison, then the risk to human populations is obvious, as the water or soil is likely to be contaminated,” he explained. “If this is a disease, then it is worth being very prudent and assuming that zoonosis is a possibility until ruled out. We are all living with the consequences of a zoonotic event, and to assume that this couldn't happen here would be cavalier.”

For now, it is not yet clear what’s causing the mysterious deaths of elephants in Botswana. Local agencies are still conducting lab tests to determine the cause of the animals’ deaths.