News Animals

Elephants are dying in droves in Botswana. Scientists don’t know why

Thirty-nine elephants have died as neighboring Zimbabwe nails a fresh killer pathogen

African elephants walking in a line

African elephants walk through the Moremi Game Reserve in northern Botswana, where a second wave of mysterious deaths among the pachyderms has scientists scrambling.

Murali Narayanan/500px Prime/Getty Images

By Tawanda Karombo

- More than 2 years ago

Die-offs of African elephants have once again erupted in Botswana. In just the first three months of 2021, 39 have succumbed.