The carcasses of 87 elephants, killed and stripped of their tusks by poachers, have been discovered near a wildlife sanctuary in Botswana, a charity says. The “fresh and recent” remains were discovered close to the protected Okavango Delta wildlife sanctuary by the Elephants Without Borders, which conducted an aerial survey for the Botswana government. The conservation charity said the “alarming rate” of poaching deaths was the biggest seen anywhere in Africa. But the government branded the figures "false and misleading", insisting Elephants Without Borders reported finding 53 carcasses, not 87. "Of the aforementioned 53 reported, a verification mission between July and August established that the majority were not poached but rather died from natural causes and retaliatory killings as a result of human and wildlife conflicts," it said in a statement. Survival International, a charity dedicated to tribal peoples, also expressed scepticism about the figures, claiming there is a "clamour" for rearming Botswanan wildlife guards, some of whom the charity has accused of "abuses against local people" and "extrajudicial killings". Botswana has an estimated 130,000 elephants, the most of any country in Africa and was long viewed as a rare refuge for the creatures. But the southern country is coming under increasing threat from poachers, who are increasingly killing elephants in the southern African country after wiping out large numbers in nearby Zambia and Angola, Elephants Without Borders said. A similar census in 2014 found just nine carcasses, according to Mike Chase, the charity’s group director. The reported increase in elephant poaching in Botswana could reflect a trend in which poachers move into new territories as conditions become more difficult in regions where they usually operate. Those conditions could include a dearth of elephants to kill after widespread poaching, or crackdowns on trafficking syndicates in some cases. Tanzania's Selous region, for example, was heavily hit by elephant poachers but recent data indicates that the killing has slowed. Even so, killings intensified around the same time in Mozambique's Niassa reserve to the south, which is linked to the Selous by a wildlife corridor. ✕ Elephants exported illegally from Laos to China for the tourist industry The fight against elephant poaching has made some gains, including a ban on the ivory trade in China, the world's biggest consumer. But experts say the rate of annual elephant losses still exceeds the birth rate, and the encroachment of human settlements is reducing the animals' range. Botswana, with a population of just over 2 million people, suffers some human-wildlife conflict but has more space than many other countries for animals to roam. Kenya, for example, has a population 25 times larger and is almost as big as Botswana in geographical size. Botswana's security forces have also had a reputation — and faced criticism from neighbouring countries — for allegedly being quick to open fire on suspected poachers, including Namibians and Zimbabweans who were killed after illegally crossing the border. Campaigners call on Indian PM to end torture of captive elephants Show all 11 1 /11 Campaigners call on Indian PM to end torture of captive elephants Campaigners call on Indian PM to end torture of captive elephants The treatment of captive elephants in Kerala is branded 'India's shame' World Animal Protection Campaigners call on Indian PM to end torture of captive elephants 'Elephants' in chains World Animal Protection Campaigners call on Indian PM to end torture of captive elephants World Animal Protection Campaigners call on Indian PM to end torture of captive elephants At the Indian High Commission World Animal Protection Campaigners call on Indian PM to end torture of captive elephants Protesters wore black World Animal Protection Campaigners call on Indian PM to end torture of captive elephants The protesters were fighting to open the world's eyes to the hidden crisis, urging people to use the hashtag breakthechains World Animal Protection Campaigners call on Indian PM to end torture of captive elephants Campaigners came in elephant masks World Animal Protection Campaigners call on Indian PM to end torture of captive elephants Outside the High Commission, India House World Animal Protection Campaigners call on Indian PM to end torture of captive elephants 'Elephants' in chains World Animal Protection Campaigners call on Indian PM to end torture of captive elephants World Animal Protection Campaigners call on Indian PM to end torture of captive elephants World Animal Protection President Mokgweetsi Masisi, who took office in Botswana this year, has taken steps to reduce the use of military weapons in operations against poachers. While the move may have alleviated tension with Botswana's neighbours, conservationists believe it could be providing an opening to emboldened ivory traffickers. The government denied disarming poachers had had an impact on poaching. "The withdrawal of weapons from [the Department of Wildlife and National Parks] has not created any vacuum in anti-poaching operations as the anti-poaching unit in DWNP continues to play a pivotal role in combating wildlife crime through other strategic interventions," it said. Poachers have targeted old bull elephants that presumably have the heaviest tusks, killing them when they go to drink at seasonal water sources, Mr Chase said. "A clear order has been put out for tusks of a specific weight, and I suspect such large ivory is in heavy demand, considering that there are few large tuskers left in Africa," he added. Additional reporting by AP<doc-sep>Warning: graphic images. The bodies of nearly 90 elephants have been found in the largest discovery of poaching in Africa. The disturbing scenes were found near to a famous wildlife sanctuary in Botswana, just months after the country’s anti-poaching unit was disarmed. Experts have said the move effectively means it is now ‘open season’ for poachers, who are brutally killing and dismembering dozens of elephants for their tusks. Elephants Without Borders have found the bodies of 87 elephants in Botswana, who have been killed for their tusks (Picture: Elephants Without Borders) ‘I’m shocked, I’m completely astounded. The scale of elephant poaching is by far the largest I’ve seen or read about anywhere in Africa to date,’ said Dr Mike Chase from Elephants Without Borders told the BBC. The carcasses of 87 elephants were found by the charity during an aerial survey of an area close to the protected Okavango Delta. Botswana has the world’s largest elephant population standing at 130,000 and over the years many have moved from neighbouring Angola, Namibia and Zambia to stay. The southern African nation was known for being very harsh with poachers but now the number being poached is double that of other African nations, according to Dr Chase. The Great Elephant Census, conducted in 2015, estimated that a third of Africa’s elephants had been killed in the last decade while 60% of elephants in Tanzania have been lost in the last five years alone. The elephants were killed and brutally dismembered as part of a worrying trend across Botswana (Picture: Elephants Without Borders) Botswana had escaped these great losses because its anti-poaching units were armed and well-managed. However they were disbanded in May – a month after President Mokgweetsi Masisi was sworn into office – and no explanation was given. Dr Chase said: ‘People did warn us of an impending poaching problem and we thought we were prepared for it. ‘The poachers are now turning their guns to Botswana. We have the world’s largest elephant population and it’s open season for poachers. ‘Clearly we need to be doing more to stop the scale of what we are recording on our survey.’ The Okavango Delta in Botswana had been a haven for the elephants but they are particularly vulnerable now the country’s anti-poaching unit has been disbanded (Picture: Universal Images Group Editorial) Botswana’s 2018 Wildlife Aerial Survey is only half-way through and conservationists fear the final figure of poached elephants will be much higher. A ‘fresh carcass’ is classed as one that has been killed within the last three months but many that are being found have been killed within the last few weeks. Conservationists fear the new government will just ignore the problem, despite it being bad for both the country’s reputation and tourism. Dr Chase added: ‘Our new president must uphold Botswana’s legacy and tackle this problem quickly. ‘Tourism is vitally important for our economy, jobs, as well as our international reputation, which is at stake here as being a safe stronghold for elephants.’ Got a story for Metro.co.uk? If you have a story for our news team, email us at webnews@metro.co.uk. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.<doc-sep>“It’s a culture. We have to kill the supply to starve the culture,” Khama said. “That is one of the reasons why, in Botswana, with our anti-poaching unit, we don’t necessarily interrogate the poacher. And that is a position we’ve adopted to send a clear message to say, ‘If you want to come and poach in Botswana, one of the possibilities is you may not go back to your country alive.’ ”<doc-sep>
ALMOST 90 dead elephants have been found in a famous wildlife sanctuary in Botswana after being killed for their tusks by poachers. An aerial survey is currently being carried out by Elephants Without Borders, who has said the scale of deaths by poaching is the largest it’s ever been in Africa. 3 Most of the dead elephants had their ivory tusks removed Credit: Facebook/Elephants without borders A wildlife survey carried out by a scientist said that many of the 87 dead elephants were killed for ivory just weeks ago, as well as five rhinos that were poached in the space of just three months. Although Botswana is known for having the world’s largest elephant population, poachers are actively destroying elephants on a daily basis. "I'm shocked, I'm completely astounded. The scale of elephant poaching is by far the largest I've seen or read about anywhere in Africa to date," said Dr Mike Chase from Elephants Without Borders. Dr Chase also said poachers are turning to Botswana after killing large numbers of elephants in nearby Zambia and Angola. 3 Botswana is home to around 130,000 elephants Credit: Facebook/Elephants without borders The latest killings were found at the Okavango Delta wildlife sanctuary, which attracts tourists from across the globe. It’s been estimated that in the last decade, around a third of Africa’s elephants have been killed, as well as 60 per cent of Tanzania’s elephants being killed within five years. It has also been reported that the international border is lacking in fences, and that elephants coming from Angola, Namibia and Zambia are deciding to stay in Botswana where it was thought to be safe for them. Cases of poaching in Botswana are rare, because of well-armed and managed anti-poaching units, giving Botswana a reputation for an unforgiving approach to poachers, reports BBC News. 3 An estimated third of Africa’s elephants have been killed, as well as 60 percent of Tanzania’s elephants being killed within five years Credit: Facebook/Elephants without borders Botswana is home to around 130,000 elephants, and is described as the last remaining sanctuary in Africa, as many of the others have been wiped out by poachers. Britain is helping to put an end to poaching, as it has imposed a complete ban on selling ivory, making the ban one of the toughest in the world, according to environment secretary Michael Gove. MOST READ IN NEWS 'GOBSMACKED' Queen 'gave Harry OK for Oprah series after misleading pitch about soldiers' ROD LIDDLE Ousting right-on National Trust boss is a victory against wokery DRUMMER DEAD School Of Rock star dies at 32 after being hit by car as Jack Black mourns HOUSE ABOUT IT You won't believe what this ordinary London home looks like on the inside Exclusive TOM'S LEGACY Captain Tom Moore — who raised £39m for charity — left family £73k in will JABS HOPE Scientists 'crack cause of blood clots linked to Covid jabs & know how to fix it' Still to be signed into law, the ban comes after a consultation in which more than 60,000 people favoured the move, an earlier article reports. Anyone caught breaking the ban will face up to five years in jail or an unlimited fine, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) say. Other countries have already banned the trade in ivory - expected to make £17billion a year - but many allow older items to be bought and sold. We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours