Hundreds of Elephants Mysteriously Die in Mass... "Suspected Novel Coronavirus"

"Drought Not to Blame... Unprecedented Mass Elephant Deaths"

Over the past two months, hundreds of elephants have mysteriously died in Botswana, South Africa. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Over the past two months, hundreds of elephants in Botswana, South Africa, have died mysteriously in large numbers.

On the 1st (local time), the British BBC reported that the UK charity 'National Park Rescue' discovered over 350 elephant carcasses in the Okavango Delta since early May.

In response, the Botswana government launched an investigation, but the cause has yet to be determined.

The Botswana government stated, "We are investigating the cause of the mass elephant deaths, and it will take several weeks to obtain the results from the samples collected from the carcasses."

Dr. McCann said in an interview with the BBC, "In early May, a local conservation group discovered 169 elephant carcasses during a three-hour flight over the delta."

He added, "It was the first time so many elephant carcasses were found during a three-hour flight. Over the following month, additional investigations uncovered more carcasses, confirming a total of over 350."

He continued, "It is unprecedented for so many elephants to die in a situation that is not drought-related."

Botswana's elephant population has increased nearly tenfold since 1970 due to the government's wildlife protection policies, reaching 130,000. Currently, about one-third of the entire African elephant population resides in Botswana.

Poaching was also suggested as a possibility. However, the Botswana government dismissed this as the cause of death, noting that the ivory remained intact in the elephant carcasses.

Dr. McCann said, "Considering that most elephants died with their faces on the ground and that other elephants were observed circling around, it appears their nervous systems were destroyed." He also mentioned the possibility that a novel coronavirus, originally known to have started in animals, might have affected the elephants as well.