Deadly algae bloom: 350 elephants in Botswana died from toxic water!

Deadly algae bloom: 350 elephants in Botswana died from toxic water!

Shock in Botswana: More than 350 elephants died from poisonous water holes! A dramatic mystery about the cause of the mass extinctions is now being revealed.

In 2020, the unthinkable happened: Over 350 majestic elephants in Botswana fell victim to mysterious deaths. Now scientists have uncovered the shocking truth - a deadly cocktail of waterholes contaminated with cyanobacteria that released dangerous cyanotoxins!

The horrifying details were revealed through a comprehensive investigation. Researchers at King's College London found that around 20 waterholes in the Okavango Delta, covering an area of ​​about 6,000 square kilometers, were contaminated. These watering holes were the elephants' last hope, but they turned into deadly traps!

What are cyanobacteria and how dangerous are they?

Cyanobacteria, often called blue-green algae, are not always toxic, but some species can cause deadly algae blooms in standing water. It is precisely these dangerous algae that were discovered in the study. The elephants, known as Loxodonta africana, died in May and June 2020 after drinking from the contaminated waterholes.

“The production of cyanotoxins depends on certain environmental factors, such as sudden increases in temperature or excess nutrients,” explains Davide Lomeo, the study’s lead researcher. These toxic conditions led to a devastating mass extinction event!

The first signs of horror were discovered through aerial photography by the organization Elephants Without Borders. In the first few months of 2020, numerous elephant carcasses were spotted in Ngamiland District. A total of 161 carcasses and 222 bone finds were documented - a clear sign of a sudden and catastrophic event!

How was the cause of death determined?

Before researchers could confirm toxic algae as the cause of death, they had to rule out other possible causes. Although the region is considered a known poaching hotspot, the carcasses were found with their tusks intact - an indication that poaching was not involved.

The researchers also analyzed other theories, such as viral or bacterial diseases, but ruled them out due to a lack of clinical signs. The distribution of carcasses suggested specific local factors that led to mass extinctions. Satellite images were also used to measure the distance the elephants traveled after drinking - an average of 16.5 kilometers. Many died just a few days later!

“The toxicological timelines for other large mammals are consistent with the 88 hours we observed,” Lomeo said. Evidence mounted that the waterholes were the source of the evil.

But despite these findings, a certain degree of uncertainty remains. It is impossible to measure the exact toxicity of each waterhole from the air, and it remains unclear whether the elephants drank from multiple waterholes. “It is very likely that they drank from several puddles before they died,” the study explains.

The exact conditions that led to such fatal toxicity are also still unknown. “We know that certain types of cyanobacteria are more likely to produce cyanotoxins, but the exact mechanisms are not yet fully understood,” says Lomeo.

The government of Botswana has officially recognized the cause of the mass extinction as environmental poisoning by cyanobacterial toxins. But the question remains: could such a disaster happen again?

“Mass extinctions are possible in any dry system where animals rely on standing water,” warns George Wittemyer, a behavioral ecologist. The danger could not only affect elephants, but other animals too!