Kenya's Wildlife Service (KWS) has launched an investigation into the deaths of 15 elephants in Amboseli National Park over the past month. The deaths occurred in the Kimana Sanctuary and Kuku Ranch areas, bordering the park.
According to the KWS, 10 of the deceased elephants exhibited signs of partial paralysis before succumbing within two days. The remaining five were discovered dead and had been partially scavenged. The majority of the affected animals were female elephants and their young calves, with only one male found among the fatalities.
Wildlife authorities noted that poisoning has been a cause of elephant deaths in Kenya in the past, often linked to poaching activities or human-wildlife conflict.
Preliminary tests conducted by a laboratory at the University of Nairobi on samples collected from the elephants detected a "potential toxic substance." However, separate analyses performed by the Government Chemist yielded negative results for the specific toxins tested. The KWS stated that further comprehensive tests are ongoing.
In parallel with the biological sample analysis, environmental investigations are underway. These include examining water sources and other potential environmental contaminants in the affected regions to determine if the elephants were exposed to a common source of a harmful substance. The KWS emphasized that there is currently no evidence to suggest that the condition affecting the elephants is transmissible to humans.