Botswana was considered the last safe haven for African elephants (Loxodonta africana), a place where they could live and reproduce without the constant threat of poachers, thanks to the country's effective national anti-poaching laws. And yet it is Botswana that has been the scene of the largest elephant massacre ever recorded in Africa. A group of researchers from the conservation organisation Elephants without Borders, during an aerial survey, discovered the carcasses of 87 pachyderms near the well-known wildlife sanctuary of the Okavango Delta.

For a handful of ivory

The number of elephants is in continuous and drastic decline; according to research by the IUCN, the population fell by 20 per cent between 2006 and 2015 and currently stands at 415,000 individuals, primarily due to poaching for their precious tusks. Botswana is home to the largest elephant population in the world, with more than 130,000 individuals. The animals found in Botswana were killed for their ivory and are believed to have been slaughtered just a few weeks ago.

Global Sanctuary for Elephants @GlobalElephants

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Dozens of #elephants killed near Botswana wildlife sanctuary! Elephants Without Borders, is conducting an aerial survey, The scale of poaching deaths is largest seen in Africa and coincides with Botswana's anti-poaching unit being disarmed. buff.ly/2wCYudv #wildlifecrime

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An unprecedented slaughter

"I'm shocked, this is by far the largest elephant massacre I have ever seen or read about anywhere in Africa to date," said Mike Chase, biologist at Elephants without Borders. As noted, elephants regarded Botswana as a safe place, and animals from Angola, Namibia and Zambia chose to remain within the country's borders. Incidents of poaching had, until now, been rare, thanks to well-equipped and well-organised anti-poaching units. However, last May, following the election of the new president, Mokgweetsi Masisi, the government disarmed its anti-poaching units, stripping the Department of Wildlife of weapons and military equipment without any explanation. This, combined perhaps with the decline of elephant populations elsewhere, drove poachers to violate even the last sanctuary of the pachyderms.

An ecological and economic loss

The extermination of elephants — ancient creatures of sophisticated intelligence that we are still not fully able to understand — will have serious consequences for both the ecosystem and the African economy. "The wildlife tourism industry is of vital importance to our economy, our jobs and our international reputation," said Mike Chase.