Recent deaths of 15 elephants in Kenya, occurring between June 24 and July 24, have been tentatively attributed by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to pesticide poisoning. Some elephants exhibited signs of partial paralysis, which officials believe points to cyanide-based pesticides used on surrounding tomato crops.
However, conservationists and local farmers have voiced doubts about this explanation. Farmers in the affected area, located in Kimana, a vital corridor between Amboseli National Park and Tsavo National Park, stated they have not previously encountered such incidents despite coexisting with wildlife for decades. Daniel Nina, a representative for some landowners in the area, shared this skepticism with the BBC, questioning why these deaths are occurring now.
The Kimana area is part of the larger Amboseli ecosystem, which spans the border with Tanzania. Approximately 2,000 elephants migrate through this region in search of food and water. The tomato farms, which supply markets in Nairobi and beyond, benefit from streams originating from Mount Kilimanjaro.
While KWS has indicated pesticide poisoning as the likely cause, the BBC reports that experts are questioning whether this is the complete picture. The ongoing investigation seeks to clarify the exact circumstances leading to the elephants' deaths.