--- title: "Hundreds of Elephants Suddenly Dropped Dead Because of Neurotoxin, Experts Say" description: "Investigations reveal that hundreds of elephants died due to cyanobacteria, toxic microscopic algae found in larger bodies of blue-green water." date: "2020-09-24" modified: "2020-09-24" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/hundreds-elephants-suddenly-dropped-dead" categories: - "Environment" - "Science & Energy" tags: - "elephants" - "environment" - "neurotoxins" --- # Hundreds of Elephants Suddenly Dropped Dead Because of Neurotoxin, Experts Say ![Investigations reveal that hundreds of elephants died due to cyanobacteria, toxic microscopic algae found in larger bodies of blue-green water.]() *\Image: Image via NeedPix\* Earlier this year, conservationists in Botswana came across something gruesome: hundreds of elephants were dropping dead — and details are slowly emerging about the horrific scene. Two flights over the Okavango Panhandle, a lush river delta, confirmed that about 356 elephants had mysteriously died, as [*The New York Times* reported]() at the time. They could rule out poachers, as all their tusks were still intact. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic hampered the investigation. "Elephants began dying in huge numbers in early May and the government would normally respond within days to an event of this scale," director of conservation group National Park Rescue, Mark Hiley, [told the *Associated Press*]() in July. "Yet here we are, months later, with no testing completed and with no more information than we had at the start." Hiley also called it "one of the biggest disasters to impact elephants this century, and right in the middle of one of Africa’s top tourism destinations." More than two months later, investigations reveal that the mysterious deaths were caused by cyanobacteria, toxic microscopic algae found in larger bodies of blue-green water, the [*BBC* reports](). The bacteria can grow naturally in standing water. Given enough time, they can bloom into algae on a larger scale. Scientists warn that climate change could end up making these events more likely in the future. "Our latest tests have detected cyanobacterial neurotoxins to be the cause of deaths," Department of Wildlife and National Parks' Principal Veterinary Officer Mmadi Reuben told reporters on Monday, as quoted by the *BBC*. Reuben also noted that those puddles likely dried up towards the end of June. "We have many questions still to be answered such as why the elephants only and why that area only," Reuben added. "We have a number of hypotheses we are investigating." **READ MORE:** [Botswana: Mystery elephant deaths caused by cyanobacteria]() \[*BBC*\] **More on elephants:** *[US Quietly Allows Import of Some Elephant Trophies]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()