[ Envirowatchers ] [ Main Menu ]
17144
From: sheila, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Hundreds of elephants dead in mysterious mass die-off
|
might be a nerve agent so says other reports, something that affects or infects these poor elephants. Botswana Botswana’s government is yet to test the remains of the dead animals in what has been described as a ‘conservation disaster’ More than 350 elephants have died in northern Botswana in a mysterious mass die-off described by scientists as a “conservation disaster”. A cluster of elephant deaths was first reported in the Okavango Delta in early May, with 169 individuals dead by the end of the month. By mid June, the number had more than doubled, with 70% of the deaths clustered around waterholes, according to local sources who wish to remain anonymous. “This is a mass die-off on a level that hasn’t been seen in a very, very long time. Outside of drought, I don’t know of a die-off that has been this significant,” said Dr Niall McCann, the director of conservation at UK-based charity National Park Rescue. The Botswana government has not yet tested samples so there is no information on what is causing the deaths or whether they could pose a risk to human health. The two main possibilities are poisoning or an unknown pathogen. Anthrax – initially considered the most likely cause – has been ruled out. McCann said: “When we’ve got a mass die-off of elephants near human habitation at a time when wildlife disease is very much at the forefront of everyone’s minds, it seems extraordinary that the government has not sent the samples to a reputable lab.” Local witnesses say some elephants were seen walking around in circles, which is an indication of neurological impairment. “If you look at the carcasses, some of them have fallen straight on their face, indicating they died very quickly. Others are obviously dying more slowly, like the ones that are wandering around. So it’s very difficult to say what this toxin is,” said McCann. Elephants of all ages and both sexes have been dying, local reports found. Several live elephants appeared weak and emaciated, suggesting more will die in the coming weeks. The true number of deaths is likely to be even higher because carcasses can be difficult to spot, say conservationists. Cyanide poisoning – often used by poachers in Zimbabwe – remains a possibility, but scavenging animals do not seem to be dying at the carcasses. Local reports say there were fewer vultures on carcasses than expected, but none showed signs of abnormal behaviour. “There is no precedent for this being a natural phenomenon but without proper testing, it will never be known,” said McCann. Covid-19 has been mentioned as a possible cause but is considered unlikely. There are about 15,000 elephants in the delta, 10% of the country’s total. Eco-tourism contributes between 10-12% of Botswana’s GDP, second only to diamonds. “You see elephants as assets of the country. They are the diamonds wandering around the Okavango delta,” said McCann. “It’s a conservation disaster – it speaks of a country that is failing to protect its most valuable resource.” The tusks of deceased elephants have not been removed and conservationists have urged authorities to guard the carcasses so that poachers do not take them. There have been no reports of elephant deaths in neighbouring countries. |
Responses:
[17146] [17148] [17150] [17152] [17154] [17151] [17147] [17145] [17149]
17146
From: Sunshine, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Hundreds of elephants dead in mysterious mass die-off
|
Holy crap. Maybe water holes somehow contaminated. So very sad. |
17148
From: sheila, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Hundreds of elephants dead in mysterious mass die-off
|
I wonder if that watering hole is infested with some sort of deadly algae? Blue Green algae can have neurotoxins in ponds that can kill animals quickly. In any case, I'm going to try to find any updates to see if they were accidently poisoned, or if someone put a toxic substance into that watering pond. I found an example from Ontario Canada: Neurotoxic cyanobacterium (blue-green alga) toxicosis in Ontario In May 2006, 3 dogs (2 Labrador retrievers and a weimaraner) in a group of 11 dogs died suddenly and unexpectedly within 1 h after swimming in a local pond at a dog sitter’s farm. The dogs had spent approximately 5 min at the pond during a supervised walk around the farm, and several of the dogs were observed swimming in the pond and eating the vegetation. When the dogs arrived back at the house, 2 dogs became weak and collapsed, with shallow breathing. The 3rd dog developed similar signs within minutes. A 4th dog, a Labrador retriever-cross, subsequently developed similar signs, but survived. Blue-green alga produces 4 types of toxins: hepatotoxins, neurotoxins, lipopolysaccharide endotoxins, and cytotoxins. Hepatotoxins, particularly microcystins, appear to be the most common toxins identified in toxic blooms. Neurotoxins appear to be much rarer in toxic blooms. The most common blue-green algal neurotoxin is anatoxin-a, but all the neurotoxins interfere with the transmission of signals in neurons or across the neuromuscular junction, leading to muscular paralysis and, in severe cases, death due to respiratory failure. Animal poisoning associated with toxic blooms of cyanobacterium have been reported in all continents, except Antarctica, (1,2) and there have been a few reports of domestic animals and wildlife consuming freshwater contaminated with toxic blue-green alga blooms in Canada (3). These reports have been predominantly microcystin-containing hepatotoxic blooms occurring in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Microcystins have been identified in Ontario in the past few years as causing disease in dogs and humans. The authors could find no reports of neurotoxic cyanobactrial blooms from Ontario affecting domestic animals. |
17150
From: Awen, [DNS_Address]
Subject: But it's only elephants
|
Thing is, last I read, the elephants were the only ones dying, which suggests it's something that specifically affects them. So, more like some sort of species specific illness, because toxins....CAN be specific but usually aren't. Of course, my question there would be....if the other animals are mostly, say, smaller mammals, would we even notice if they died (small bodies easily eaten quickly by predators)? If it were small mammals, eaten by apex predators, you'd think the toxins would be killing off the predators too, though. |
17152
From: Awen, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Title reads badly: Meant that elephants are the only species dying
| NOT Trivializing elephants. |
Responses:
[17154]
17154
From: sheila, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Title reads badly: Meant that elephants are the only species dying
|
I know what you meant Awen, I did read that they found no other creatures that died so might be some sort of virus though Antrax has been ruled out. If it had been the nearby villagers poisoning these elephants with cyanide as has happened in the past, surely other species would have died too. Now environmentalists are saying that the Botswana govt. are trying to delay testing so there's that. It's such a political thing apparently because that country has such a large population of elephants that sometimes harm villager's crops, etc. I'm on it like glue to see what the results of these test will show. I truly love these creatures. |
Responses:
None
17151
From: Awen, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Elephants are sensitive to sounds, low sounds
|
Could they be picking up on a sound beyond our range causing neurological damage, I wonder? |
Responses:
None
17147
From: Redhart, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Hundreds of elephants dead in mysterious mass die-off
|
Yeah, incredibly sad ...I hope they find out what is going on and help those wonderful elephant souls. |
Responses:
None
17145
From: Eve, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Hundreds of elephants dead in mysterious mass die-off
|
don't know what to say... so sad |
Responses:
[17149]
17149
From: sheila, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Hundreds of elephants dead in mysterious mass die-off
|
yes, I tried mightily to deal with this new story but fell apart because I love these creatures so very much. They have deep emotions, mourn their dead and possess such strong families devoted to their survival. So many species are in trouble now all because of humans poisoning this beautiful earth. Might be the best thing to happen if humans die off from this virus to save what's left of life on earth. |
Responses:
None
[ Envirowatchers ] [ Main Menu ]