At least 15 elephants have died from exposure to a suspected poison in the Amboseli National Park in southern Kenya over a four-week period, the country’s nature conservation authorities reported on Wednesday.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said the animals had died in the park, which lies along the border with Tanzania, between June 24 and July 24. The nearby Kimana Conservancy and the Kuku Ranch area have also been affected.
The KWS said that 10 of the 15 elephants showed similar symptoms, including partial paralysis that left them unable to stand. The animals died within one to two days after the onset of symptoms. The deaths have primarily affected adult female elephants and their calves.
The remaining five carcasses were too badly decomposed to be examined.
Preliminary investigations suggest the presence of a toxic substance, according to the KWS. However, further laboratory tests are needed to determine the concentration, nature and origin of the suspected poison.
Authorities are also analysing water sources and other potential environmental contaminants in the affected areas to establish whether the elephants were exposed to a common source. It remains unclear whether human activity played any role in the incident.
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