Africa-Press – Botswana. The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) is investigating the deaths of several elephants in the Khwai area. Reports have indicated that these elephants were seen struggling with swollen and visible sores on their feet.
Mr Dimakatso Ntshebe, the regional wildlife coordinator, confirmed in an interview recently that they received information last week about the deaths of elephants in the Khwai area.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that a number of elephants exhibited swollen feet and visible sores.
Along with these findings, the department has also discovered carcasses of elephants in the area. However, the cause of death has been attributed to factors such as drought and natural causes. Mr Ntshebe stated that further information was needed before any conclusive statements could be made.
“We recently examined another deceased elephant and found swollen feet. There is a strong possibility that this may be related to the mass mortality of elephants, as this stressful situation disrupts their daily routine of feeding and drinking,” Mr Ntshebe commented.
While the presence of anthrax or any infectious disease has not been diagnosed, it is evident that there is a lack of sufficient forage for the elephants.
The body condition of the deceased elephants indicates malnutrition, as it has been below average.
Although the department is currently ruling out the possibility of pathogens, thorough investigations are ongoing to determine the root cause of these deaths.
In 2020, the DWNP experienced a similar situation in the Okavango region, specifically in the areas surrounding the villages of Gunutsoga, Eretsha, and Seronga. Initially, some officials suspected anthrax to be the cause of the elephant deaths, but local tests yielded negative results.
Further investigations revealed that all the deceased elephants sampled exhibited a common symptom of a flabby heart.
Additionally, some elephants in the area have displayed difficulties in walking or dragging their feet.
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