Fifteen elephants were found dead west of Amboseli National Park in southern Kenya, officials say the animals were poisoned by consuming tomatoes sprayed with pesticides and containing cyanide. Preliminary laboratory tests by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) have confirmed the presence of cyanide in samples taken from the carcasses.
Ten of the elephants exhibited paralysis before dying within two days, while the remaining five were already dead when discovered. Though investigations are ongoing, wildlife officials have ruled out foul play and emphasised that the toxic substances pose no immediate risk to humans.
The tragedy has reignited concerns about agricultural expansion near the park, as elephants frequently stray onto farmland in search of food and water. The Amboseli ecosystem, straddling the Kenya‑Tanzania border, is home to more than 2,000 elephants, according to the Amboseli Trust for Elephants.
Authorities say this is the first significant wave of elephant mortalities in decades, a time when anti‑poaching measures have been successfully implemented. The carcasses included elephants of varying ages and sexes, suggesting the deaths were not confined to a single family group.
KWS confirmed that the deaths occurred between 24 June and 24 July 2026, amid growing scrutiny of human‑wildlife interactions in the region.
