The mysterious death of the 11 elephants in Zimbabwe has baffled park authorities and experts. The Associated Press reported that authorities are now investigating the incident in the western part of the country, ruling out cyanide poisoning and poaching.
The Mysterious Death of 11 Elephants in Zimbabwe
Park authorities discovered the carcasses of the 11 elephants on Friday in Pandamacue Forest, located between Zimbabwe's largest natural reserve, Hwange National Park, and the Victoria Falls.
According to the authorities, all the elephants still had their tusks, which means that their death was not caused by poaching. Zimbabwe is home to 85,000 elephants, the second-largest population globally, but due to poachers who cut the tusks of elephants for ivory, their number is struggling.
Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said that they have collected blood samples from the dead elephants and are now analyzing them to know the cause of their death.
Farawo said that they have ruled out cyanide poisoning as only elephants were affected, and no other animals, such as vultures, were affected. Only after the tests are done will they be able to determine the cause of their death. But initial tests show that it is not cyanide, and authorities have also ruled out poaching, Farawo added.
The Mysterious Death of Hundreds of Elephants in Botswana
Earlier this month, hundreds of elephants in Botswana's Okavango Delta died mysteriously. The wildlife department believes the elephants have died due to natural toxins.
Like the dead elephants found in Zimbabwe, the ones found in Botswana still has intact tusks, so they ruled out the possibility of poaching.
They immediately conducted tests in different countries, however, the results have not been fully conclusive. But according to the preliminary results, the scientists are looking into naturally-occurring toxins as the possible cause of death.
Wildlife and Parks Department boss Cyril Taolo explained that some bacteria, particularly in stagnant water, can produce toxic chemicals. The government has recorded 281 dead elephants so far, although independent conservationists said that there are about 350 dead elephants.
Wildlife conservation charity, Elephants Without Borders (EWB), thinks that the elephants have started dying for about three months already. Those alive have shown weakness, lethargy, emaciated, disoriented, and some have difficulty walking.
Read Also: Pregnant Wild Elephant Found Dead After Eating Pineapple Full of Explosives
How Did Cyanide Poisoning Is Helping Poachers Kill Elephants?
Cyanide poisoning has become common in Zimbabwe for elephant poaching. Its use has been on the rise because it is cheap and quiet. Poachers would lace salt licks with cyanide or pour the chemical into the watering holes where elephants would usually drink. Sometimes they would also use oranges as the bait.
Under the Hazardous Substance Act of Zimbabwe, cyanide should only be sold by accredited chemical substance dealers to those in the mining and chemical industry. These customers are required to produce written proof that they are authorized to handle and use it and must obtain a permit from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.
Additionally, the country's Defense Forces can also have large quantities of military-grade hydrogen, mercury, and cyanide for military purposes. Unfortunately, some dealers do not always follow the law.
Read More: Singapore Destroys Nine Tons of Ivory Tusks On the Eve of World Elephant Day
Check out more news and information on Cyanide Poisoning in Science Times.
