ボツワナ、干ばつでゾウ１００頭以上死ぬ　炭疽が原因の可能性も

【ハボローネＡＦＰ＝時事】アフリカ南部で続いている数十年で最悪規模の干ばつにより、ここ2か月でボツワナのチョベ国立公園に生息していたゾウ100頭以上が死んでいたことが分かった。ボツワナ政府が22日、明らかにした。（写真は資料写真）
　干ばつは数か月続いている高温と不安定な降雨が原因で、牧草地の荒廃や水たまりの枯渇を引き起こしており、動物の生息をますます困難にしている。
　調査ではゾウの一部は炭疽（たんそ）によって死んだ可能性も指摘されており、ボツワナの環境省は「深刻な干ばつによりゾウが草を食べながら土壌も摂取してしまい、炭疽菌胞子にさらされた」としている。
　炭疽は土壌内に含まれる菌から発生する感染症で、一般的に草食動物が感染する。また、死因としては野生動物でも飼育動物でもよくみられる。
　さらにボツワナ環境省はゾウが死んだ原因として、食べ物を探して長い距離を歩き衰弱したとも指摘している。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2019/10/24-09:43）

More than 100 elephants have died in two months in Botswana's Chobe National Park due to drought, which has also affected wildlife in other countries in the region, the government said Tuesday.
Several southern African countries are enduring one of the worst droughts in decades, caused by months of over-average temperatures and erratic rainfall.
The drought has wilted grasslands and dried up water holes, making it increasingly difficult for animals to survive.
Botswana's environment ministry said it has recorded a spike in the number of elephant and other animal deaths since May.
More than one hundred elephants are estimated to have died naturally in the past two months, the ministry said in a statement, adding that 13 deaths were recorded just this week.
In neighbouring Zimbabwe, Its wildlife agency has recorded at least 55 elephant deaths over the past month due to lack of food and water.
Preliminary investigations in Botswana have also suggested some of the elephants may have died from anthrax.
Due to the severe drought, elephants end up ingesting soil while grazing and get exposed to the anthrax bacteria spore, the ministry said in a statement.
The animals are also travelling long distances in search of food which leaves some highly emaciated, ending in death.
Anthrax is an infectious disease found naturally in soil. It is generally contracted by herbivores and is a common cause of death for both wild and domestic animals around the world.
The environment ministry said it would be burning anthrax related carcasses to prevent the disease from spreading to other animals.
It warned the public not to touch any animal carcasses they might find and report them to the authorities.