In brief
Elephant carcasses found around Kenya’s Amboseli National Park have led Wildlife Service officials to suspect cyanide poisoning linked to pesticide spraying on adjacent tomato farms. While traces of the toxin were detected in stomach samples, conservationists and farmers doubt the conclusion, citing inconsistent behaviour and lack of prior incidents. Reports reveal that illegal, cyanide‑containing insecticides are still smuggled across the Tanzanian border, raising concerns about enforcement and animal safety. The deaths underscore growing tension between wildlife protection and expanding agricultural activity in the region.
Kenya’s Wildlife Service (KWS) has reported that fifteen elephants found dead between 24 June and 24 July near Amboseli National Park show signs consistent with cyanide poisoning, a chemical used in some pesticide formulations.
The KWS chief vet, Dr Isaac Lekolool, confirmed the presence of the toxin in stomach samples but said the agency does not yet rule out possible deliberate action, noting the unusual short period over which the deaths occurred.
Tomato farms in the Kimana area—situated between Amboseli and Tsavo—are the primary source of concern, as they receive water from watersheds fed by Mount Kilimanjaro and supply markets in Nairobi and beyond.
A 2024 report by Route to Food highlighted a farmer in Kimana who used an insecticide containing cyanide, noting that illegal agrochemicals still cross the Tanzanian border with limited checks.
Experts such as Paula Kahumbu question the pesticide link, stating that the evidence of cyanide is insufficient and the deaths align poorly with elephant raiding patterns, which would typically involve adult males rather than the single male among the deceased.
Local farmers, including Stephen Michael, describe ongoing conflicts as elephants raid farms for food, causing significant crop losses, which further complicates the picture of why the recent deaths occurred.
With no clear cause identified, the Kenyan government faces pressure to strengthen enforcement of pesticide regulations and to investigate potential environmental contamination of wildlife corridors.
