GABORONE (Reuters) – Botswana wildlife officials said on Monday that cyanobacteria was the cause of a spate of mysterious elephant deaths this year that had alarmed conservationists.

Cyril Taolo, deputy director of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, told a news conference that the number of dead elephants had risen to 330 from 281 last reported in July.

(Reporting by Brian Benza; Writing by Alexander Winning)

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