Toxins in water produced by cyanobacteria killed more than 300 elephants in Botswana this year, officials said while announcing the result of an investigation into the deaths which had baffled conservationists.
About:
Cyanobacteria are microscopic organisms common in water and sometimes found in soil.
Cyanobacteria are a group of photosynthetic bacteria, some of which are nitrogen-fixing, that live either freely or in a symbiotic relationship with plants or lichen-forming fungi.
Not all produce toxins but scientists say toxic ones are occurring more frequently as climate change drives up global temperatures.
Some cyanobacterial blooms can harm people and animals and scientists are concerned about their potential impact as climate change leads to warmer water temperatures, which many cyanobacteria prefer.
The number of dead elephants had risen to 330, from 281 reported in July.
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