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Botswana says it has solved mystery of mass elephant die-off
Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2020 9:31 am
by Bob Juch
For months, hundreds of elephants have been found dead there. And conservationists couldn't figure out why...until now. Officials say the elephants died from toxic algae in waterholes. And that climate change is making these toxins worse as water temperatures get warmer. They now plan to monitor waterholes to make sure this doesn't happen again.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... nction-aoe
Re: Botswana says it has solved mystery of mass elephant die-off
Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2020 9:51 am
by earendel
Bob Juch wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 9:31 am
For months, hundreds of elephants have been found dead there. And conservationists couldn't figure out why...until now. Officials say the elephants died from toxic algae in waterholes. And that climate change is making these toxins worse as water temperatures get warmer. They now plan to monitor waterholes to make sure this doesn't happen again.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... nction-aoe
I read that there was still some question as to why only elephants were dying of the cyanotoxin that was in the water. There's evidently an anti-elephant sentiment among some in Botswana, because they are accused of damaging croplands; the government has even issued some hunting licenses.
Re: Botswana says it has solved mystery of mass elephant die-off
Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2020 10:19 am
by Spock
earendel wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 9:51 am
Bob Juch wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 9:31 am
For months, hundreds of elephants have been found dead there. And conservationists couldn't figure out why...until now. Officials say the elephants died from toxic algae in waterholes. And that climate change is making these toxins worse as water temperatures get warmer. They now plan to monitor waterholes to make sure this doesn't happen again.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... nction-aoe
I read that there was still some question as to why only elephants were dying of the cyanotoxin that was in the water. There's evidently an anti-elephant sentiment among some in Botswana, because they are accused of damaging croplands; the government has even issued some hunting licenses.
"Anti-elephant sentiment"-Ha.
In large part, the poor bush Africans who live in elephant country hate and fear elephants.
Put yourself in the role of a subsistence farmer who just had his crops ruined by a herd of pachyderms and tell him why it is a bad idea to issue some hunting licenses, of which his family will get the meat.
Re: Botswana says it has solved mystery of mass elephant die-off
Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2020 12:49 pm
by earendel
Spock wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 10:19 am
earendel wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 9:51 am
I read that there was still some question as to why only elephants were dying of the cyanotoxin that was in the water. There's evidently an anti-elephant sentiment among some in Botswana, because they are accused of damaging croplands; the government has even issued some hunting licenses.
"Anti-elephant sentiment"-Ha.
In large part, the poor bush Africans who live in elephant country hate and fear elephants.
Put yourself in the role of a subsistence farmer who just had his crops ruined by a herd of pachyderms and tell him why it is a bad idea to issue some hunting licenses, of which his family will get the meat.
I understand, and wasn't implying anything.