Fifteen elephants found dead outside Kenya’s Amboseli National Park are suspected to have been poisoned by eating tomatoes sprayed with cyanide‑containing pesticide.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) says laboratory tests detected cyanide in samples taken from the carcasses. Ten of the animals showed signs of paralysis before dying within two days; the other five were found already dead.
Investigations continue, but officials have ruled out foul play for the moment. They have also reassured locals that the toxins do not pose an immediate risk to people.
Yet the incident has sparked worry over growing farming around the park. Elephants often wander onto farmland in search of food and water, and this case highlights the danger of pesticide contamination.
The deaths occurred between 24 June and 24 July 2026. According to data from the Amboseli Trust for Elephants, the ecosystem hosts more than 2,000 elephants as of 2025. This is the largest death toll in decades, following a successful crackdown on poaching.
By Richard Kagoe & Kaleb Moges, BBC Africa
