Cyanide in tomato pesticide killed 15 elephants, Kenyan officials suspect
Foul play is ruled out in the record number of elephant deaths for decades in this area of southern Kenya.
Fifteen elephants found dead in southern Kenya outside Amboseli National Park are suspected to have been poisoned by eating tomatoes treated with pesticides on nearby farms, according to Kenyan wildlife officials. Preliminary lab tests revealed cyanide in samples from the animals' carcasses. Ten of the deceased showed signs of paralysis before dying within two days, while the remaining five were already dead upon discovery.
Investigations are ongoing, but wildlife officials have not ruled out foul play. Authorities have assured the public that the toxic substances ingested by the elephants pose no immediate risk to humans. This incident has raised concerns about the growth of farming activities near the park, as elephants frequently stray into farmland for food and water.
The Amboseli ecosystem, spanning the border with Tanzania, is renowned for its wildlife. This is the first time in decades that such a large-scale elephant mortality has been recorded in the region, where Kenya has made significant progress in combating poaching. The carcasses belonged to elephants of various ages and genders, indicating the deaths were not confined to a specific group.
The KWS reported the deaths occurred over a month, between June 24 and July 24, 2026. According to the Amboseli Trust for Elephants, there were over 2,000 elephants in the Amboseli ecosystem as of 2025.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
