Botswana investigating mysterious sudden deaths of 350 elephants

Experts fear unexplained mass die-off may be result of unknown pathogen

Okavango Delta elephants fighting
Okavango Delta elephants fighting

Scientists are struggling to explain the sudden deaths of more than 350 elephants in northern Botswana, in what has been described as a “conservation disaster”.

The spate of elephant deaths in the southern African nation’s Okavango Delta was first reported in early May, with 169 confirmed to have died by the end of the month. “By mid June, the number had more than doubled,” The Guardian reports.

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