HARARE, Zimbabwe – Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding the mass deaths of African elephants in 2020, possibly attributing it to a previously unknown bacterium called Bisgaard taxon 45. This bacterium has never been seen in wild elephants before and is now being closely studied for its potential role in the deaths of hundreds of elephants.
In the span of just a few months, a total of 385 elephants mysteriously died in Botswana and northwestern Zimbabwe. After ruling out poaching and cyanobacteria as potential causes, scientists turned their attention to a little-known bacterium. Through a study conducted by UK scientists, it was found that six of the affected elephants were infected with Bisgaard taxon 45, leading to fatal blood poisoning.
Although the sample size of the study was limited, researchers believe that the bacterium could be linked to the larger elephant deaths. The identification of this bacterium marks a significant step forward in understanding the cause behind these mysterious deaths, according to Professor Falko Steinbach, the head of virology at the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency.
The source of infection and route of transmission of Bisgaard taxon 45 are currently unknown, raising concerns about the implications for the African elephant population and other wildlife. This new discovery presents potential challenges for the conservation of African elephants, especially as the forest and savanna elephant species are now listed as Critically Endangered and Endangered, respectively.
Further research is needed to gain a deeper understanding of the bacterium and its long-term implications for the survival of African elephants and other wildlife, according to Steinbach. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications, shedding light on the urgency of addressing this threat to the elephant population.