Four arrested over suspected poisoning of elephants in Kenya

Four individuals have been arrested in Kenya as part of an investigation into a series of mysterious elephant deaths over the past two months, officials said. Three Kenyan nationals and one Tanzanian suspect were detained on suspicion of poisoning at least 18 elephants in Amboseli National Park, the Kenya Wildlife Service told the BBC. Investigators are examining whether the elephants died from cyanide poisoning after consuming large quantities of tomatoes treated with illegal pesticides. Preliminary laboratory tests detected traces of cyanide in crop samples taken from the animals’ stomachs. All of the affected elephants—primarily female adults and their calves—had also exhibited signs of paralysis, which authorities say further indicates cyanide exposure. Tomato farms in the Kimana area, situated within a wildlife corridor linking Amboseli and Tsavo National Parks in southern Kenya, are the suspected source of the contaminated produce. The Amboseli ecosystem, which straddles the Kenya‑Tanzania border and supports more than 2,000 elephants seeking food and water, has long been vulnerable to cross‑border smuggling of banned agrochemicals. Although Kenya prohibits the use of such pesticides, enforcement remains weak and little attention is given to their potential impact on wildlife. The suspects have been released on bail while the investigation continues.