Hwange, Zimbabwe – A mysterious mass death of African elephants in northwestern Zimbabwe between August and November 2020 has finally been unraveled. The cause, according to a new report authored by scientists, could be more likely to occur amid conditions created by the ongoing climate crisis.
According to researchers, 35 African elephants dropped dead under baffling circumstances, with 11 of the massive herd animals dying within a 24-hour period. Dr. Chris Foggin, a veterinarian at Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust in Zimbabwe and a coauthor of the study on the cause of the deaths, described the situation as unique, especially in that part of the world.
The research, published in the journal Nature Communications, revealed that a bacterial infection called Bisgaard taxon 45 caused septicemia, or blood poisoning, in the elephants. The deaths took place as food and water resources dwindled during the dry season, forcing the elephants to travel increasing distances to look for water and to forage. The extreme conditions, which scientists project will occur with more frequency as Earth warms, could mean more elephant deaths in the future.
The African elephant, listed as endangered, faces significant pressure from poaching and habitat loss. Its population numbers diminished by 144,000 to about 350,000 between 2007 and 2014, with continuing losses estimated at 8% every year. Despite finding evidence of infection in six out of the 15 samples, researchers have not found a proven connection between the Zimbabwe and Botswana elephant deaths.
The microorganism, Bisgaard taxon 45, which does not have an official name, is closely related to another, more common bacterium known as Pasteurella multocida, which can cause hemorrhagic septicemia in other animals, including Asian elephants. Scientists are monitoring wildlife in the area for presence of the bacteria, but no further elephant deaths as a result of Bisgaard taxon 45 had been confirmed since 2020.