NEWS
Did fences cause the elephant deaths in Botswana ?
Did fences in northern Botswana cause the mysterious death of hundreds of elephants in 2020 ? News media have been quick on the draw to blame fences , after the release of a recent report suggests a strong link . But , as is often the case , the situation is nuanced and requires pragmatic analysis rather than finding simple solutions to complex problems .
Team Africa Geographic
Current Address : Africa Geographic , Decoding Science Reprinted From : http :// bit . ly / 3sYG2aX
Between March and June 2020 , a mysterious illness claimed the lives of 330 elephants in the Seronga district of Botswana ’ s Okavango Delta . Now , a new study has shed light on the broader ecological implications of these elephant deaths and how a complex interplay of natural and anthropogenic factors ( including fences ) all played a role .
Scientists have used previous research on elephant movements in the area to interpret the wider conservation implications of these deaths . In particular , their conclusions highlight three main aspects significant for the management of elephant populations , not just in Botswana but throughout Africa :
1 . The impact of fences on conservation – data from collared elephants indicates that the combination of the Okavango River and fences
Figure 1 : Elephant carcasses in Northern Botswana , May / June 2020 ( Photo : Africa Geography )
19 Grassroots Vol 21 No 1 March 2021