pasteurella

The elephants died of sepsis related to Pasteurella bacteria, the same bacteria which killed 200,000 antelopes in Kazakhstan.

Scientists believe the Pasteurella bacteria generally lives harmlessly in the tonsils of some, if not all, of the antelopes.

But they suggested other pathogens, such as Pasteurella multocida, may be responsible instead.

> Scientists believe the Pasteurella bacteria generally lives harmlessly in the tonsils of some, if not all, of the antelopes.

It would be convenient for climate change apologists if that were the case, but as per TFA the event seems to be pretty clearly attributable to Pasteurella bacteria.

There's even been some debate WRT to the Black Death agent being Yersinia pestis (formerly Pasteurella pestis ), some think or thought an hemorrhagic virus was a more likely cause.

I think the parent comment is referring to this paragraph: > Pasteurella bacteria has previously been linked to the sudden death of about 200,000 saiga antelopes in Kazakhstan – an incident that researchers believe could shed light on what happened to the elephant herds.

The article notes "the Pasteurella bacteria generally lives harmlessly" in antelopes, but became more virulent, possibly because of above-average temperatures.