The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has initiated an investigation following the deaths of 15 elephants within the Amboseli ecosystem over the past month.
The fatalities occurred between June 24 and July 24 across several locations including Amboseli National Park, Kimana Sanctuary, and Kuku Ranch. Ten of the deceased elephants showed symptoms such as partial paralysis, which rendered them unable to stand before dying within one to two days.
Due to the condition of the remaining five carcasses, which were either heavily decomposed or scavenged, determining their cause of death was not possible.
In response, KWS deployed veterinary teams from Nairobi, Tsavo, and Amboseli to conduct post-mortems, treat any surviving elephants, and collect samples for laboratory analysis.
Preliminary findings from the University of Nairobi indicated the presence of a potential toxic substance in samples from several affected elephants. Further quantitative tests are ongoing to understand the concentration and implications of this toxin, while investigations continue to identify its source.
Environmental assessments are also underway, including testing water sources and checking for contaminants across the affected areas to ascertain if the elephants were exposed to a common harmful agent.
KWS has intensified surveillance in the Amboseli ecosystem and is collaborating with scientific partners to determine the definitive cause of death. The agency reassures the public that there is no evidence suggesting any risk to human health, as the condition appears isolated to the elephant population and is not transmissible.
