In brief
Kenyan wildlife officials say 15 elephants near Amboseli National Park died after ingesting poisoned tomatoes sprayed with cyanide. Lab tests confirmed the toxin. The incident highlights the risk of expanding agriculture close to wildlife habitats.
15 elephants have been found dead in southern Kenya around Amboseli National Park. Early findings attribute the deaths to cyanide, a toxic ingredient found in tomato pesticide sprayed by nearby farms.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) says lab tests detected cyanide in carcass samples. Ten of the elephants were paralyzed before they died, while five were already dead when they were discovered.
Investigations are still in progress, but officials have ruled out foul play. They also reassure residents that the toxin poses no immediate danger to humans.
The case underscores how expanding farms can put wildlife at risk, as elephants often roam into fields in search of food and water.
Amboseli hosts over 2,000 elephants. This killing scale is unprecedented in recent decades in the area, where poaching has long been curbed.
