Lead
Kenya's wildlife authorities suspect that 15 elephants found dead near Amboseli National Park may have been poisoned by pesticides sprayed on tomato crops on nearby farms. Preliminary laboratory tests have detected cyanide in samples taken from the animals' carcasses, according to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
The deaths occurred between 24 June and 24 July, with ten elephants showing signs of partial paralysis before dying within two days, while the other five were already dead when discovered. The KWS says it has ruled out foul play for now, and has reassured the public that the toxic substances ingested by the elephants pose no immediate risk to humans.
This is the first time in decades that elephant mortalities on this scale have been recorded in the Amboseli ecosystem, a vast area straddling the border with Tanzania and home to more than 2,000 elephants, according to the Amboseli Trust for Elephants.
Coverage Comparison
Reports on the elephant deaths differ in their details and emphasis. One version from the BBC reported that 15 elephants had died and that KWS had found cyanide in samples, while an earlier BBC report mentioned 14 deaths and said tissue samples had been sent to laboratories to determine the cause. AllAfrica reported that preliminary findings had detected a potential toxic substance, without specifying cyanide.
The cause of death remains under investigation. The KWS's chief vet, Dr Isaac Lekolool, told the BBC that traces of cyanide had been found in samples taken from the elephants' stomachs, but said it was difficult to tell what had killed them. "It's difficult to tell because we've not seen these kind of cases before. It is almost like a one-off, and it was within a period of about a month," he said. Their working theory is that the elephants were exposed to the toxin through pesticides.
However, the BBC also reported that conservationists have expressed doubts about the initial findings, and farmers in the area are sceptical. Daniel Nina, who represents some of the landowners, told the BBC: "We have stayed with this wildlife for decades and have never experienced this. So that's why we are wondering why it is happening today."
Key Claims
- Number of deaths: Most reports say 15 elephants died, though one earlier BBC report said 14. The carcasses include elephants of different ages and sexes, suggesting the deaths are not limited to a single family or demographic.
- Toxic substance: Kenya Wildlife Service says preliminary laboratory tests found cyanide in samples from the carcasses. AllAfrica reports a potential toxic substance without naming it.
- Source of poisoning: Suspected to be pesticides used on tomato crops in the Kimana area, part of a corridor between Amboseli National Park and Tsavo National Park.
- Official response: KWS has launched an investigation and sent tissue samples to laboratories. They have ruled out foul play and say the toxic substances pose no immediate risk to humans.
- Environmental concerns: The incident has raised concerns about expanding farming near the park, with elephants often straying onto farmland in search of food and water.
- Regulatory gaps: The United Green Movement (UGM) says the incident exposed gaps in Kenya's regulation of hazardous chemicals and has called for tighter controls.
Perspectives
Kenya Wildlife Service: Holds that preliminary tests point to cyanide poisoning from pesticides, but stresses that the exact cause is uncertain and that investigations are ongoing.
United Green Movement (UGM): Calls for an independent investigation into the deaths, urging authorities to tighten controls on hazardous chemicals. The party's Co-Secretary General Katto Wambua said: "The continued availability and misuse of highly hazardous pesticides and toxic chemicals pose a serious threat not only to wildlife but also to human health, food security and the environment."
Conservationists and local farmers: Express doubt about the initial findings, noting that such deaths have never been seen before in decades of coexistence with wildlife.