Bacterial Pathogen Identified in Cold Case of 35 Elephant Deaths in Zimbabwe

In Zimbabwe, a mysterious and potentially nefarious incident where 35 elephants died between August and November 2020 left investigators puzzled. Initially, poisoning or poaching were suspected, but those causes were quickly ruled out. The bodies showed no signs of scavengers or missing tusks, which would have indicated poisoning or poaching. Scientists recently identified the culprit as the bacterium Pasteurellaceae Bisgaard taxon 45, shedding light on the intriguing case. In a recent study published in the …

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Mortality: Mystery of Elephant Deaths in Zimbabwe Solved After 3-Year Investigation

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe – The mysterious deaths of 35 African elephants in north-west Zimbabwe have puzzled wildlife experts for years. In a landscape marred by drought and high temperatures, the cause of the mass mortality remained unknown until recently. After ruling out poaching, starvation, and anthrax, wildlife veterinarian Chris Foggin and his team discovered a strain of Pasteurella bacterium resembling Bisgaard taxon 45 in the deceased elephants. This bacterium, not known to kill African elephants, …

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