Officials are investigating the deaths of 15 elephants over the past month in Kenya's Amboseli National Park. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) reported that ten of the elephants displayed signs of partial paralysis and died within two days. The remaining five carcasses were too decomposed or had been scavenged, preventing determination of cause of death. Most of the deceased were female elephants and their calves, with only one male among them. The deaths occurred in the Kimana sanctuary and Kuku ranch areas surrounding the park.
Preliminary Findings
Preliminary tests on samples from the elephants conducted by a laboratory at the University of Nairobi detected a “potential toxic substance,” while separate analyses by a government laboratory were negative for the toxins tested. KWS said further tests are underway. Environmental investigations are also being conducted, including analysis of water sources and other potential environmental contaminants in the affected areas, to determine if the elephants were exposed to a common source.
Broader Context
Kenya has previously recorded incidents of elephants being poisoned due to poaching and human-wildlife conflict. The authorities sought to reassure the public, stating there is no evidence the condition could be transmitted to humans. Amboseli is world-renowned for its elephant herds and savannah landscapes, with Kilimanjaro visible across the border in Tanzania. It is estimated there are about 2,000 elephants in the park.
