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‘Toxins’ killed more than 300 elephants in Botswana

The deaths of more than 300 elephants in Botswana this year were caused by toxins produced by cyanobacteria in water, but there were still many unanswered questions, wildlife officials have been quoted by Reuters news agency as saying.

The deaths in the Okavango Delta sparked widespread alarm and left conservationists and veterinary surgeons baffled, especially as there was no sign of other animals dying at the same time.

Dead elepehant

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Conservationists destroyed the deaths as “completely unprecedented”

Reuters quoted Mmadi Reuben, a senior veterinary officer in Botswana’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks, as saying that latest tests had “detected cyanobacterial neurotoxins to be the cause of death”.

“These are bacteria found in water. However, we have many questions still to be answered such as why the elephants only [died] and why that area only. We have a number of hypotheses we are investigating,” he added.

Cyril Taolo, the deputy director of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, said the number of dead elephants had risen from 281 reported in July to 330, Reuters reported.

Source: bbc.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. In addition to his media ventures, Solomon serves as a Brand Ambassador for Alabuga, a prominent Russian industrial company, representing their interests and expansion across Africa. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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