At least 19 elephants have died in the Amboseli ecosystem of southern Kenya since June, displaying symptoms including partial paralysis and breathing difficulties, with no confirmed cause identified. AFP journalists observed six carcasses in the Kimana reserve, among them a young calf and a pregnant female whose unborn calf also died.
At least 19 elephants die in southern Kenya's Amboseli ecosystem from unexplained condition
At least 19 elephants have died in the Amboseli ecosystem of southern Kenya since June, displaying symptoms including partial paralysis and breathing difficulties, with no confirmed cause identified. AFP journalists observed six carcasses in the Kimana reserve, among them a young calf and a pregnant female whose unborn calf also died.
The Kenya Wildlife Service said preliminary toxicology tests detected high concentrations of cyanide in some carcasses, raising the possibility of pesticide poisoning from nearby farms. On August 7, however, the service said its findings did not indicate an infectious or transmissible disease.
Among the affected animals was an 11-year-old male known as Genghis Khan, found exhausted and struggling to breathe. Veterinarians were able to administer only a glucose injection because the cause of the condition remains unknown. The deaths have involved mostly females and young males, according to the source.
Patrick Papatiti, head of operations for Olgulului communal lands, said hyenas and vultures have fed on the carcasses without showing signs of poisoning — an observation he and others cite as reason to doubt the pesticide explanation. Local communities have expressed concern that whatever is killing the elephants could eventually affect livestock and, potentially, people.
Elephants are central to tourism and the local economy in the Amboseli region, and the deaths have drawn attention from conservationists and community leaders who are calling for a comprehensive official investigation.
- The source does not state which government body or bodies would lead or fund a comprehensive investigation.
- The source does not specify the full toxicology methodology used by the Kenya Wildlife Service or whether the cyanide tests have been independently verified.
- The source does not state how the cyanide concentrations found compare to levels considered lethal for elephants.
- The source does not establish whether any disease pathogen has been identified or ruled out through laboratory analysis.
- The source does not state the total elephant population in the Amboseli ecosystem, which would establish the scale of the losses relative to the population.
- The source does not indicate when a definitive investigation report is expected or whether one has been formally commissioned.
Read the original at Africanews