Deadly algae blossom: 350 elephants in Botswana died of poison water!

Deadly algae blossom: 350 elephants in Botswana died of poison water!

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

In 2020 the inconceivable happened: over 350 majestic elephants in Botswana fell victim to a mysterious death. Now scientists have uncovered the shocking truth - a fatal cocktail of water holes, contaminated with cyanobacteria that released dangerous cyanotoxins!

The terrifying details were brought to light by a comprehensive examination. Researchers at King’s College London found that around 20 water holes in the Okavango Delta were contaminated over an area of ​​around 6,000 square kilometers. These water points were the last glimmer of hope for the elephants, but they became fatal!

What are cyanobacteria and how dangerous are they?

cyanobacteria, often referred to as blue algae, are not always poisonous, but some species can cause deadly algae flowers in standing water. Exactly these dangerous algae were discovered in the study. The elephants, known as Loxodonta Africana, died in May and June 2020 after they had drunk out of the contaminated water holes.

"The production of cyanotoxins depends on certain environmental factors, such as sudden temperature increases or nutrient surpluses," explains Davide Lomeo, the leading researcher of the study. These toxic conditions led to a devastating mass extinction!

The first signs of terror were discovered by aerial photographs of the Elephant's organization with Borders. In the first months of 2020, numerous elephant carcasses were spotted in the Ngamiland district. A total of 161 carcasses and 222 bones were documented - a clear sign of a sudden and catastrophic event!

How was the cause of death determined?

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

The researchers also analyzed other theories, such as viral or bacterial diseases, excluded them due to the lack of clinical signs. The distribution of the carcass indicated specific local factors that led to mass extinction. Satellite images also measured the distance that the elephants made after drinking - an average of 16.5 kilometers. Many died only a few days later!

"The toxicological temporities for other large mammals match the 88 hours that we observed," said Lomeo. The evidence condensed that the water holes were the source of the evil.

But despite these findings, there is a certain degree of uncertainty. It is impossible to measure the exact toxicity of each water hole from the air, and it remains unclear whether the elephants drank from several water holes. "It is very likely that they drank from several puddles before they died," explains the study.

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

The government of Botswana officially recognized the cause of mass death as environmental poisoning by cyanobacterial toxins. But the question remains: could such an accident be repeated?

"In all dry systems in which animals are dependent on standing water, mass extinctions are possible," warns George Wittemyer, a behavioral ecologist. The danger could not only affect elephants, but also other animals!