The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has launched an investigation into the deaths of 15 elephants in the Amboseli National Park region over the past month. The majority of the dead animals were females and their calves, with only one male among them.
Ten of the elephants showed signs of partial paralysis before dying within two days, according to officials. Five carcasses were found partially consumed by scavengers or too decomposed to determine the cause of death. The deaths occurred in the Kimana Sanctuary and Kuku Ranch areas surrounding Amboseli National Park.
Died in the Amboseli region over the past month, prompting a KWS investigation.
Preliminary tests by the University of Nairobi detected a 'potential toxic substance' in samples from the elephants. However, separate analyses by Kenya's Government Chemist found no evidence of the specific toxins tested. Further environmental investigations are underway, including analysis of water sources and potential contaminants.
Authorities have stated there is no evidence the condition can be transmitted to humans. Kenya has previously recorded elephant deaths from poisoning due to poaching or human-wildlife conflict, but officials say it is the first time in decades the region has recorded deaths on this scale, according to BBC News. The KWS also said there was no evidence pointing to a single cause of death, BBC News reported.
Amboseli National Park, located near the Tanzania border at the northwestern foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, is world-renowned for its elephant herds and savannah landscapes. The park is estimated to have about 2,000 elephants, though one source reports more than 2,000 as of 2025.