Kenyan wildlife authorities have launched an investigation into a possible mass poisoning after 15 elephants were discovered dead in a wildlife sanctuary. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) reported that 10 of the animals exhibited signs of partial paralysis before succumbing within two days. The remaining five elephants were found dead and partially scavenged.
The majority of the deceased elephants were females and their calves, with only one male among the group. The animals were found in different locations within the Kimana Sanctuary and Kuku Ranch areas, which surround a renowned wildlife park.
Preliminary tests conducted on samples taken from the elephants at a University of Nairobi laboratory indicated the presence of a "potential toxic substance." However, separate analyses performed by the Government Chemist yielded negative results for the specific toxins tested, and further tests are ongoing.
KWS stated that environmental investigations are also underway, including the analysis of water sources and other potential contaminants in the affected areas. The aim is to determine if the elephants were exposed to a common source of contamination. The KWS has assured the public that there is currently no evidence to suggest the condition is transmissible to humans.
According to data from the Amboseli Trust for Elephants, the Amboseli ecosystem was home to over 2,000 elephants as of 2025. Kenya has a history of elephant deaths attributed to poaching and human-wildlife conflict, which have included poisoning incidents in the past.
In a separate incident in 2021, five elephants, including a calf, died in fires reportedly started by UK soldiers conducting training exercises in Kenya. Local reports indicated that four elephants were trapped within an area surrounded by electric fencing erected to keep them away from a military training zone. The fire was said to have started accidentally when soldiers were cooking. A week prior to that incident, a baby elephant was reported to have died in another fire on a military training area when a flare, allegedly used to disperse a herd, is said to have ignited dry grass, trapping the calf.