The discovery could shed light on a larger event in which 356 elephants died in mysterious conditions in Botswana’s Okavango Panhandle in the same year.
Scientists discovered the bacterium in six African savannah elephants from Zimbabwe. They all died unexpectedly. The bacterium has never been found before in wild elephants. The BBC writes about it.
The investigation focuses on 35 elephant deaths that occurred between August and September 2020 in northwestern Zimbabwe. It was led by Dr Chris Foggin from the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust.
The team performed necropsies on 15 elephants. As a result of the examination, it appeared that 13 individuals had septicemia.
In addition, six of them were found to have a bacterium known as Bisgaard taxon 45, which had previously been found in swabs from tiger and lion bites.
Professor Falko Steinbach noted that the drought and lack of food in 2020 may have weakened the elephants, making them more susceptible to infections. Although this bacterium is known, it has not previously been associated with septicemia in elephants. Steinbach suggested that a combination of environmental stressors and bacteria could lead to outbreaks of severe disease, especially given the nature of elephants.
“With African savannah elephant numbers estimated at 350,000 and declining by about 8% annually, understanding the causes of sudden elephant deaths is critical to their conservation,” added Laura Rosen, a fellow at the Transboundary Epidemiology Think Tank, emphasizing its critical nature. research.
We remind you that earlier a lion was searched in the south-western outskirts of Berlin. During the day, around 120 policemen searched for him. Wildlife experts speculated that witnesses may have mistaken it for a wild boar.
Source: korrespondent
I am Ben Stock, a passionate and experienced digital journalist working in the news industry. At the Buna Times, I write articles covering technology developments and related topics. I strive to provide reliable information that my readers can trust. My research skills are top-notch, as well as my ability to craft engaging stories on timely topics with clarity and accuracy.