Scientists Unravel Mystery of African Elephants' Mass Deaths: Climate Change Identified as Cause

Scientists have identified a bacterial infection called Bisgaard taxon 45 as the cause of mysterious mass deaths of African elephants in Zimbabwe. The deaths occurred during a period of dwindling food and water resources, exacerbated by heat, drought, and population density. The study suggests that the ongoing climate crisis could increase the likelihood of such mortality events in the future. The African elephant population has been declining due to poaching and habitat loss, and these recent deaths further threaten their survival.