Kenya Wildlife Service suspects cyanide in tomato pesticide to be the cause
The Kenya Wildlife Service is investigating the deaths of 15 elephants near Amboseli National Park, suspected to be caused by cyanide-laced pesticides on nearby farms. While officials have ruled out poaching, the incident highlights growing tensions between expanding agricultural activities and wildlife conservation.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the environmental risks posed by agricultural expansion into wildlife ecosystems and the potential for human-wildlife conflict.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Richard Kagoe and Kaleb Moges , BBC Africa, Nairobi De Agostini Editorial / Getty Images It is estimated that more than 2,000 elephants roam in and around Amboseli National Park Fifteen elephants found dead in southern Kenya outside the Amboseli National Park are suspected to have been poisoned by eating tomatoes that had been sprayed with pesticides on nearby farms.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) says preliminary laboratory tests found cyanide in samples taken from the animals' carcasses.
Ten of the elephants had been found with signs of paralysis and then died within two days. The other five elephants were already dead by the time they were discovered.
Investigations are continuing, but for the time being wildlife officials have ruled out foul play.
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