Study Links Climate Change to Elephant Deaths in Botswana

A study from King's College London has linked the mass deaths of over 350 elephants in Botswana in 2020 to toxic algal blooms caused by climate change. The elephants, found primarily around watering holes, displayed unusual behavior prior to their deaths, indicating poisoning from blue-green algae or cyanobacteria that thrived due to increased rainfall followed by drought. Researchers utilized satellite data to analyze around 3,000 waterholes, finding a correlation between high algal levels and the distribution of the carcasses. The event has been described as a 'conservation disaster', highlighting the dangers posed by climate-induced ecological changes. The findings underscore the urgent need for attention to wildlife conservation as climate change continues to impact natural habitats. This incident also raises concerns about the broader implications for other species in similar environments.