GABORONE, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) — An unknown number of elephants have reportedly died from starvation in the northwestern part of Botswana over the last three months, according to an official.
Dimakatso Ntshebe, the regional wildlife coordinator in Botswana’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks, informed Xinhua on Monday that several elephants had died in the Khwai area, northwest of Botswana.
Ntshebe explained that preliminary investigations into the discovery of several elephant carcasses in the area revealed that the animals showed swollen feet and visible sores before dying.
Ntshebe stated, “The body condition of the deceased elephants indicates malnutrition, as it has been below average,” and attributed the lack of forage in the area to persistent heatwaves resulting from climate change.
He mentioned that the elephants’ deaths could be attributed to drought and natural causes, as they are traveling long distances in search of food and water, leading to swollen feet.
Ntshebe also stated that investigations are ongoing to determine the actual cause of the elephants’ deaths.
Samuel Ramatonto, a senior meteorologist with Botswana Meteorological Services (BMS), said on Monday that the southern African country has been experiencing extremely hot conditions.
Ramatonto added that the late arrival of rains this year led to insufficient forage and water in most parts of the country. Rains only started falling around mid-December, and the levels are still very low.
