At that time it was evident that these deaths were being caused by a number of factors all relating to poisoning, due to exposure to toxic substances. Apart from heavy metals, which are fatal on high bio-accumulation levels, they can also weaken the birds making them vulnerable to other infections. The current flamingo deaths are likely being caused by food poisoning because of increased algal toxins found within the blue green algae and heavy metal bio-accumulation. Such serious variations favor the growth of algal toxins. Likewise, there has been noticeable fluctuations in lake water levels, since the end of the Elnino rains.
Flamingoes die as a result of ingesting the toxins as they feed on the blue green algae.
In the short term, these deaths are natural and it may not be easy to control them through direct management measures. Factors like heavy metal poisoning, nutrients, temperature, pH and water level that contribute to production of algal toxins are governed by natural causes and to some extent human induced. Some of these factors originate from far beyond the immediate vicinity of the lakes. In the long run, the environmental conditions are expected to revert to normal levels and the deaths of flamingoes will cease. Along term strategy is to intensify catchment management so as to minimize heavy metals, nutrient enrichment, drastic changes in lake levels and temperature fluctuations.