Botswana is investigating the deaths of 39 elephants since the beginning of the year. So far, they have ruled out poaching, anthrax and bacterial infections as the cause. The Ministry of the Environment said the death toll rose to 39 individuals.
“Further laboratory tests are ongoing. Extensive field and aerial surveys have revealed no other wildlife mortality in the area, ”the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry ruled out poaching as the elephant tusks were found intact. The animals were found dead in the Moremi Game Reserve.
The latest deaths come a few months after 330 elephants died mysteriously near the Okavango Delta border.
