Fifteen elephants were found dead in southern Kenya outside the Amboseli National Park between 24 June and 24 July 2026. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) suspects the elephants were poisoned after consuming tomatoes sprayed with pesticides containing cyanide on nearby farms.
Preliminary laboratory tests conducted by KWS detected cyanide in samples taken from the elephants' carcasses. Ten of the elephants showed signs of paralysis before dying within two days, while the other five were already deceased when discovered.
Wildlife officials have ruled out foul play at this stage and have reassured the public that the toxic substances ingested by the elephants do not pose an immediate risk to humans. However, the incident has raised concerns about expanding farming activities near the park, as elephants frequently stray onto farmland in search of food and water.
The Amboseli ecosystem, which includes the park and its surroundings, is a vast wildlife area that crosses the border into Tanzania. According to the Amboseli Trust for Elephants, there were over 2,000 elephants in this ecosystem as of 2025.
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