Fifteen elephants were found dead outside Amboseli National Park in southern Kenya, with some of the animals showing signs of partial paralysis that was likely caused by poisoning. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) found traces of cyanide in early samples collected from the elephants’ carcasses, which suggests they may have been poisoned by eating tomatoes that had been sprayed with pesticide from nearby farms, The Guardian reported. The devastating incident raises concern over expanding farmland near national parks just as conservation efforts by Kenyan authorities were starting to pay off. Tragedy at Amboseli The recent deaths occurred in the Kimana Sanctuary and Kuku Group Ranch areas around Amboseli National Park. Ten of the elephants showed signs of partial paralysis before dying within two days, according to KWS. The remaining five carcasses were found decomposed or scavenged, making it difficult to identify the cause of death.
The majority of the elephants were females and their calves, with only one male elephant in the group. Their deaths occurred over a month between 24 June and 24 July. Authorities collected samples from the elephants and ran preliminary tests at the lab, which showed traces of cyanide. The chemical compound was likely used as a pesticide at a farm in Kimana town, a leading producer of tomatoes.
