More than 100 elephants in Botswana have died in the past two months partly because of a suspected anthrax outbreak, the government says.

"Preliminary investigations suggest the elephants are dying from anthrax while some died from effects of drought." the Department of Wildlife and National said. 

The department also said that the severe drought in the country has pushed the elephants to ingest soil while grazing, exposing them to the anthrax bacteria spore.

The wildlife authority in Botswana explained that the latest deaths were in the Chobe Riverfront and Nantanga areas in Botswana where 14 dead elephants were found this week.

Burning the carcasses would prevent anthrax infection from spreading to other animals though infections can be prevented in animals by regular vaccination.

Anthrax is however not contagious to humans they can only be infected if they consume the bacteria.

Anthrax is bacteria found naturally in soil and usually affects domestic and wild animals when they inhale or ingest anthrax spores in contaminated soil, plants or water.