Botswana's mystery spate of elephant deaths could be caused by a 'novel disease', the government fears. Six new elephant carcasses have been discovered in the African country, taking the total since May to 281 in a crisis which has left officials and veterinarians baffled. Poachers sometimes use poisons like cyanide to kill elephants, but scavenging animals do not appear to be dying near the carcasses. Cyril Taolo, acting director of Botswana's wildlife department, said the government had contacted neighbours Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia and Zambia but they had not seen similar elephant deaths. Some campaign groups have criticised the government for acting too slowly to solve the mystery of the dying elephants, an accusation which Reuben denied.

Source: Daily Mail July 10, 2020 15:01 UTC