The Dhaka Times Desk A large number of these elephants died in Botswana, Africa, which has led to several theories among experts. Although there are some countermeasures against each of them. So what is that argument?
The sudden death of nearly 300 elephants in Botswana has raised eyebrows among zoologists. Eyewitnesses believe that the elephants were moving in a circular path before they died. Then some of their elephants fell to their faces and died, some gradually (slowly) collapsed to death. Environmentalists have described it as an 'ecosystem conservation disaster' in a world that is changing due to the impact of Covid-19. Like many of them, such events can happen in any part of the world in the coming days.
Exactly what happened in Botswana's Okavango Delta remains a mystery. From the beginning of May, reports of death of elephants started coming from the remote areas of this delta. By the end of May, the number reached 169. By mid-June, it nearly doubled. The death march has not been interrupted yet. Several theories have already appeared among experts as to why this large number of elephants died. Although there are some arguments against each of them.
According to the first theory, it could be the work of poachers. Or local people. Humans may have done this to save their crops from elephants. In particular, a decision last year by the country's president, Mokwitsi Masisi, is seen by many as further encouraging such actions. 5 years ago a law was made to stop the killing of elephants in that country. But Masisi withdrew the law, arguing that 'killing elephants is sometimes necessary'.
However, there is disagreement among the experts as to how the locals killed the elephants by using poison. Especially when cyanide poisons were used, other animals that ate the flesh of dead elephants were also infected. Nothing happened in this case. However, when poisons like sodium fluoroacetate are administered, they break down quickly after they work in the victim's body. That's why it doesn't affect others. Liver test is also needed to understand if something like that has happened or not. Which is actually not possible yet.
The second theory says lack of food or water. However, this theory is not tenable at all, because most of the places where elephant carcasses were found are green grasslands and there are also water bodies nearby.
Basically, the third theory is created from here. And that is cyanobacteria. This bacterium was responsible for the deaths of millions of elephants in the early ages. These highly toxic bacteria usually live near the edges of water bodies. However, elephants have a habit of drinking water from the middle of the reservoir. That's why experts put the name of the threat of cyanobacteria on the back row for now. But to know whether there is any truth that water testing is going on or not.
And fear number four is definitely anthrax. Many people suspect that elephants may have been affected by anthrax due to their nervous system after seeing the elephants writhing around before death. However, the government of Botswana is reluctant to accept this. South African veterinarian Michael Coke has been working on anthrax for the past 30 years. According to him, it could also be caused by this bacterium, but a blood test of the dead animal is needed to be sure. Anthrax can be difficult to recognize if it is delayed. If those elephants have anthrax, then the bodies of these dead animals should be burnt as soon as possible. Otherwise, anthrax can spread terribly from this area.
A fifth theory fears that the encephalomyocarditis virus may also play a role. This virus is mainly spread by rat-bites. Although the number of rat-lice has increased in this delta region, there are no such statistics.
Finally, number six emerges in theory, in terms of fear, which is the most frightening thing for us. Is there no impact of covid-19 behind this? Experts are not saying anything like that so far. But they say, there is another thing, which is related to this corona virus. According to experts, if the environment changes very quickly, the known viruses and bacteria can also change their character and structure. Bacteria that may not have been lethal before may become the leading cause of death in hundreds of thousands of animals. 2015 incident in Kazakhstan. About two hundred thousand antelopes were killed there within a few days. Because before that the temperature rises quite a bit. That's why even unsavory bacteria like the Pasteurella bacterium become overnight killers. The fear that there is no such reason behind Botswana's elephant deaths seems to be emerging as the most convincing argument at the moment.
Meanwhile, the world and its nature as we know it is changing rapidly due to Covid. Just as temperatures are rising, carbon emissions have fallen as life has slowed down due to Covid. Experts believe that everything is affecting the ecosystem together. That's what happens. Which is likely to happen in every country in the future, according to many.
Currently, 18,000 elephants, 16,000 people, 18,000 other domestic animals in the Okavango Delta are under severe threat of ecosystem destruction. But there's no guarantee that this blow won't hit your backyard right away. Wearing a mask and rubbing our hands with sanitizer, the question remains whether we can survive at all. The answer is not written anywhere.
Source: This time
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