09 Aug 2020

The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism has ruled out use of agro-chemicals or pesticides as the cause of mysterious elephant  deaths in the Seronga area since March.

A press release from the ministry says toxicological analysis of nine pesticides and chemicals commonly implicated in wildlife poisoning have tested negative.

It says Encephalomyocarditis virus, an acute viral disease characterised by inflammation and degeneration of skeletal and cardiac muscle and lesions of the central nervous system has also been eliminated as the cause of mortality.

Based on clinical data and laboratory results received so far, the release says infectious pathogens were also unlikely to be the cause of death.

In addition, it says two suspected mineral elements and under nutrition or starvation have also been ruled out as potential causes of death.

However, the release says results received so far do not eliminate poisoning and environmental factors including naturally occurring toxins which are still being investigated.

The release further says no new   elephant deaths have been recorded and further results are awaited.

Meanwhile, the release says an extensive aerial survey of NG11, NG12 and NG13 has been completed while further statistical analysis is ongoing.

 

The ministry will continue informing the public on any new developments on the matter, it says. BOPA