Fifteen elephants have died in southern Kenya over the past month, and the Kenya Wildlife Service believes the deaths were likely caused by the animals ingesting cyanide from pesticides used on nearby tomato farms. Laboratory analysis of samples collected from the carcasses detected traces of this highly toxic chemical compound, which is used in farming as both a predator control poison and a pest fumigant. The Director General of KWS warned that elephants consuming cyanide cannot survive for more than a day or two.
The deaths occurred in the Kimana sanctuary and Kuku Group ranch areas surrounding Amboseli National Park, a region covering 392 square kilometers that, together with neighboring conservancies, is home to more than 1,600 elephants. Ten of the elephants had shown signs of partial paralysis before dying. The head of veterinary and capture services at KWS reported that the stomach contents of one elephant from a herd that roamed the Kimana sanctuary included substantial quantities of tomatoes, suggesting agrochemical poisoning.
Kimana town is a leading tomato producer where researchers have previously documented the use of cyanide-based substances on crops. KWS officials cautioned that the impact could extend beyond elephants to livestock such as goats and cattle that also feed from agricultural areas. Conservation organizations, including the International Fund for Animal Welfare, described the incident as deeply alarming, emphasizing that every elephant lost is significant for both species conservation and the health of the ecosystems these animals help sustain.