Wildlife officials in Kenya say 15 elephants found dead this month in Amboseli National Park were likely poisoned by cyanide after eating tomatoes contaminated with pesticides from nearby farms, in one of the deadliest single elephant poisoning incidents recorded in the country in recent years.
Wildlife officials in Kenya confirmed on Thursday that 15 elephants found dead earlier this month in Amboseli National Park were likely killed by cyanide poisoning. Authorities believe the toxin originated from pesticides used on farms bordering the park, which sits near the Tanzanian border and is renowned for its elephant herds. Preliminary laboratory tests have detected cyanide in samples taken from the animals, though officials are awaiting final forensic results to confirm the exact source of the poisoning.
How the elephants were poisoned
Kenya Wildlife Service spokesperson Duncan Juma Wanyama told AFP that investigators suspect the elephants consumed tomatoes contaminated with “very strong pesticides.” Tomatoes were found in the stomachs of several elephants belonging to the same herd, and Wanyama said the animals were likely drawn to unripe plants growing on farmland neighbouring the park.
At least one elephant died directly on a farm after eating the contaminated tomatoes, while others made their way towards a water source before dying days later, despite receiving treatment from veterinary teams. Describing the effects of the poison, Wanyama said cyanide is “a toxic substance… which is very lethal, very poisonous,” explaining that “whenever the elephant consumed it, it affects their lung and the liver.”
The 15 elephants are believed to have belonged to the same family herd, making the incident one of the deadliest single elephant poisoning events recorded in Kenya in recent years.
Investigation under way
It remains unclear whether the poisoning was deliberate or accidental. Kenya Wildlife Service has launched a criminal investigation, with detectives collecting soil, water, crop and plant samples from farms surrounding Amboseli National Park. Investigators are examining whether the contamination stemmed from the illegal misuse of agricultural chemicals or a deliberate attempt to poison elephants known to raid crops in the area. Officials have not identified who they suspect may be responsible, though farmers in the region have previously been accused of deliberately poisoning elephants in an effort to protect their harvests. Wildlife officials are also investigating whether other farmers nearby use the same chemicals.
Wider risks to livestock and other wildlife
Kenya Wildlife Service has warned that the contamination could pose a broader threat beyond the elephant population. Director General Erustus Kanga said: “Other than the elephants and the wildlife that may be feeding in those fields, we have the local livestock. We have the goats. We have the cattle that are there. Eventually, if this is truly what is in the system, then we are going to see a bigger impact.”
Conservationists have separately warned that if cyanide-contaminated vegetation remains in the environment, other wildlife species, livestock and scavengers could also face the risk of secondary poisoning from consuming affected plants or prey.
A significant setback for conservation
Amboseli National Park is particularly well known for its elephant herds and its dramatic savannah landscapes, with Mount Kilimanjaro visible across the border in Tanzania. The park is home to an estimated 2,000 elephants and is internationally recognised for its long-running elephant research and conservation programmes.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) described the poisoning as “a major setback” for one of Africa’s key elephant populations, warning that the incident highlights the devastating impact toxic substances can have on wildlife, livestock, people and wider ecosystems. IFAW Kenya director Ben Wandago said: “Those responsible must be held fully accountable under the law. This tragedy also underscores the urgent need for the strict control and responsible handling of highly toxic substances to prevent them from entering the natural environment.”
A long-standing tension
Human-elephant conflict remains a persistent challenge around Amboseli, with elephants frequently leaving the park to feed on nearby farmland, resulting in crop losses and ongoing tension with local farming communities. In response to the poisoning, wildlife organisations have renewed calls for stronger regulation of highly toxic pesticides, arguing that restricting access to dangerous chemicals is essential to protecting both wildlife and the communities living alongside it.
