Kenya: Mystery Elephant Deaths in Kenya Leave Experts Divided Over Cause
[RFI] Conservationists and Maasai communities are calling for urgent answers as paralysis-like symptoms spread among elephants in Kenya's Amboseli National Park, with competing theories emerging over what is causing their deaths.
A mysterious illness has claimed the lives of at least 20 elephants in Kenya's Amboseli National Park since June, leaving conservationists and Maasai communities baffled over the cause. The latest victim, an 11-year-old male elephant named Genghis Khan, was found unable to stand and struggling to breathe in the Kitenden B reserve near the national park.
Despite veterinarians attempting to revive him with a glucose injection, he succumbed to the illness on Tuesday. The majority of the deceased elephants are females and young males, displaying weakness and partial paralysis. The deaths have sparked concern among conservationists and local communities, as the Amboseli ecosystem is a major wildlife destination and a significant source of tourism revenue.
Toxicology tests initially suggested cyanide poisoning, but conservationists and wildlife experts have dismissed this theory due to the absence of similar deaths among other animals and livestock in the area. They believe the cause is likely a disease rather than poisoning, though they acknowledge more evidence is needed to confirm this hypothesis.
The KWS has stated that their findings do not support an infectious or transmissible disease, but the priority remains to determine the exact cause of the elephant deaths.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
