Poison or disease? Controversy surrounds mysterious deaths of 18 elephants in Kenya

A perplexing and controversial situation is unfolding in Kenya's Amboseli ecosystem, where at least 18 elephants have died under mysterious circumstances. While Kenyan wildlife authorities attribute the deaths to cyanide poisoning, a claim linked to local tomato crops, this explanation is being challenged by wildlife rangers and local communities.

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This is one of the cases. We believe we have lost 20 in almost two months, which is very sad. It is an incident that we have not yet clarified.

These groups suggest that an unknown disease might be the cause, and they believe the death toll could be higher than officially reported. The affected elephants, primarily adult females and their calves, have reportedly experienced partial paralysis before succumbing. The mysterious deaths have cast a somber shadow over the iconic landscape, with Mount Kilimanjaro visible across the border in Tanzania.

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It has been refuted by a government agency that controls pests and all the chemicals used to spray vegetables, whose experts went to Amboseli.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has stated that laboratory tests on the deceased elephants show traces of cyanide, a pesticide component found in crops grown in the area, including tomatoes. However, local farmers vehemently deny poisoning the animals. They argue that wild animals, their livestock, and even humans consume these tomatoes without ill effect, questioning the KWS's findings.

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They did their investigations and could not trace (any product) to the farms in the area.

Patrick Papatiti, head of operations for the Olgulului community lands, stated that a government agency responsible for pest control and chemical usage in the region investigated the area but could not trace any harmful products to local farms. He proposed that an undetected disease specifically affecting elephants could be the true cause. The Maasai community, in particular, emphasizes their long history of coexisting with wildlife, asserting that they protect these animals despite past losses of property and family members due to wildlife encounters. To demonstrate the safety of their produce, local villagers have been seen eating tomatoes, along with their animals, in front of journalists.

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People eat them and they don't harm anyone. We don't use harmful pesticides, we use pesticides that help us get rid of pests.