Four arrested over suspected poisoning of elephants in Kenya
An investigation is looking into whether the deaths were caused by pesticides sprayed on tomato crops.
Four individuals have been apprehended in Kenya as part of an investigation into a series of unexplained elephant deaths that have occurred over the past two months, according to officials. The Kenya Wildlife Service informed the BBC that three Kenyan nationals and one Tanzanian have been detained on suspicion of poisoning at least 18 elephants in the Amboseli National Park.
Authorities believe the elephants fell victim to cyanide poisoning after consuming large quantities of tomatoes that had been sprayed with illicit pesticides. Preliminary laboratory tests have detected traces of cyanide in samples taken from the elephants' stomachs. All of the affected elephants, which predominantly consisted of female adults and their offspring, exhibited signs of paralysis, further supporting the cyanide poisoning theory.
Tomato farms are located in the Kimana area, which is part of a corridor linking Amboseli National Park and Tsavo National Park in southern Kenya. This expansive area, known as the Amboseli ecosystem, spans the border near Tanzania and serves as a habitat for over 2,000 elephants that traverse the region in search of sustenance and hydration.
Pesticides prohibited in Kenya are occasionally smuggled across the porous border with Tanzania and employed in farms within the Amboseli area, where elephants often venture close to human settlements and are known to raid farms for sustenance.
Although regulations against illegal agrochemicals are in place, enforcement is weak, and little attention is given to the potential impact these substances can have on animals. The suspects have been released on bail, and the investigation into the matter continues.
Written by urgent.news from BBC World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
