Hundreds of elephants died within weeks of each other, many found near water sources, some seen stumbling and collapsing before death. For months, no one could say why.
The Deaths
Beginning in early 2020, wildlife officials in Botswana's Okavango Delta — home to more than 15,000 elephants — began reporting a wave of unexplained elephant deaths. Aerial surveys identified over 350 carcasses within a few months, with reports of some elephants seen staggering or collapsing before dying near lakes, canals, and villages.
Ruling Out the Obvious
Investigators, including researchers from the UK-based charity National Park Rescue, said the pattern of deaths did not match poisoning by poachers, which typically kills scavenger species as well when elephant carcasses are deliberately poisoned to prevent detection — a pattern that wasn't observed here. Anthrax, which had killed elephants in the region previously, was also considered but not confirmed as the cause. At the time, officials said they had not ruled out disease or environmental toxins.
Editorial Note on Current Status
This entry reflects reporting from mid-2020, when the cause remained officially undetermined. Later reporting may have identified a specific cause (some public reporting has pointed to toxins from cyanobacteria in shared waterholes) -- please verify the current, confirmed explanation before publishing, since this significantly affects how the story should be framed.
FAQ
How many elephants died in this event?
At least 350 were confirmed dead in initial surveys, with the total likely higher based on later reporting.
Was poaching responsible?
Investigators said the pattern of deaths didn't match typical poaching poison cases, which usually also kill scavenger animals.
Has a cause ever been confirmed?
This needs to be verified with current sourcing before publishing — please check for updates since the original 2020 reporting.