ボツワナでゾウが謎の大量死、密猟の可能性はなし

【ハボローネＡＦＰ＝時事】アフリカ南部ボツワナの有名なオカバンゴ湿地帯で、ゾウ数百頭が謎の死を遂げていることが分かった。野生生物保護当局のトップが2日、明らかにした。死骸に牙が残っていることから、密猟の可能性はないという。（写真はボツワナ・マウン郊外のオカバンゴ湿地帯につながる場所で水を飲むゾウ。資料写真）
　野生生物保護・国立公園当局のトップはＡＦＰに対し、「オカバンゴ湿地帯の北部地域でゾウ３５６頭が死んだとの報告があり、このうち２７５頭をこれまでに確認した」と明かした。また、死因は現時点では不明だが、炭疽（たんそ）菌の可能性もないという。
　この大量死に警鐘を鳴らしたのは保護団体「国境なきゾウたち（ＥＷＢ）」で、ゾウ３５６頭の死に言及した同団体の極秘報告書が１日にメディアにリークされていた。
　ＥＷＢは、このゾウたちはオカバンゴ湿地帯で約３か月の間に死んでいったとみている。
　ＥＷＢがまとめた報告書によると、「ゾウが年齢と性別を問わずに死んでいることを示す十分な証拠がある」という。
　また、複数の生きているゾウは弱り、だるそうで、痩せ衰えており、何頭かは方向感覚を失い、歩行困難や足を引きずる症状を見せており、「あるゾウは円を描いて歩き続け、群れの仲間に促されても方向を変えることができない様子だった」と報告した。
　ボツワナには、世界最大の推定１３万頭前後のゾウが生息している。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/07/03-11:30）

Hundreds of elephants have died mysteriously in Botswana's famed Okavango Delta, the head of the wildlife department said Thursday, ruling out poaching as the tusks were found intact.
The landlocked southern African country has the world's largest elephant population, estimated to be around 130,000.
We have had a report of 356 dead elephants in the area north of the Okavango Delta and we have confirmed 275 so far, Cyril Taolo, the acting director of the department of Wildlife and National Parks, told AFP in a text message.
He said the cause of the deaths was yet to be established with anthrax having been ruled out.
We do not suspect poaching since (the) animals were found with tusks, he said.
Samples have been collected and sent to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Canada for testing.
Similar deaths were first reported in May when authorities found 12 carcasses in just a week in two villages in the northwest of the country.
The latest discoveries were flagged by a wildlife conservation charity, Elephants Without Borders (EWB), whose confidential report referring to the 356 dead elephants, was leaked to the media on Wednesday.
EWB suspects the elephants have been dying in the area for about three months.
According to the report dated June 19, 2020, 70 percent of elephant carcasses were considered recent, having died about a month ago, and 30 percent of the carcasses appeared fresh, ranging from one day to two weeks old.
There was good evidence to show elephants of all ages and sex appear to be dying, said the report penned by EWB director Mike Chase.
Several live elephants appeared to have been weak, lethargic and emaciated, with some showing signs of disorientation, difficulty in walking or limping, EWB said.
One elephant was observed walking in circles, unable to change direction although being encouraged by other herd members, said the report.