15 Kenya elephants likely poisoned by cyanide, officials say

Fifteen elephants found dead over the past month in and around Kenya's Amboseli National Park were likely poisoned by cyanide, wildlife officials said Thursday.

Kenya Wildlife Service spokesman Duncan Juma Wanyama said a preliminary investigation found that the animals had ingested cyanide. Investigators suspect the elephants ate tomatoes contaminated with strong pesticides from nearby farms, he said.

Tomatoes were found in the stomachs of several elephants from the same herd, which may have been drawn to unripe plants growing on farms near the park. At least one elephant died on the farm where the tomatoes were growing, while others moved toward a water source before dying days later despite veterinary treatment.

KWS had recorded 15 elephant deaths between June 24 and July 24 in Amboseli National Park, Kimana Sanctuary and the Kuku Ranch area. The dead animals included females, calves and one adult male. Ten showed similar signs, including partial paralysis that left them unable to stand.

Officials said the remaining five carcasses were too decomposed or had been scavenged, preventing investigators from determining their cause of death. The investigation is still under way, and officials said it was not yet clear whether the poisoning was accidental or deliberate.

Wildlife officials are checking whether other farmers in the area use the same chemicals. Amboseli is known for its elephant herds and savannah landscapes, with Mount Kilimanjaro visible across the border in Tanzania.