At least 20 elephants have died in Kenya’s Amboseli ecosystem since June, prompting an investigation into suspected cyanide poisoning. But as authorities search for answers, local farmers are challenging the theory, saying they do not use cyanide-based pesticides and questioning why other animals have not suffered similar deaths.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) began investigating after preliminary laboratory tests detected cyanide in samples taken from some of the dead elephants. Tomatoes found in the stomachs of some of the animals have raised the possibility that they may have eaten contaminated crops from farms bordering wildlife areas.
“Cyanide is highly toxic and can kill an elephant within a short period after ingestion,” said KWS Director General Erastus Kanga. “Investigators have therefore been examining whether contaminated tomatoes or other crops could have been the source.”
The first deaths were recorded between June and July, mainly around Kimana Sanctuary and the Kuku Ranch area near Amboseli. As more elephants died, the investigation expanded to other parts of the ecosystem. The death toll later rose to at least 20, including an 11-year-old male elephant named Genghis Khan.
Veterinarians said several of the elephants showed similar symptoms before dying. “The elephants reportedly showed similar symptoms before dying, including partial paralysis,” said Dr. Isaac Lekolool, head of veterinary services at KWS. He said the animals also showed signs of “paralysis and difficulty breathing.” But investigators have not yet established where the cyanide came from. “We are yet to find out where this cyanide came from,” Lekolool said.
That uncertainty has fueled skepticism among farmers living alongside the wildlife. Elvis Muchai, a tomato farmer who has lived and farmed around Amboseli for years, said farmers in the area had never encountered cyanide among the chemicals they use on their crops. “The chemical they are talking about, we’ve never seen it or heard of it here,” Muchai said.
He said elephants frequently enter farms and destroy crops. Muchai estimated that elephants had destroyed about half an acre of his tomato crop, causing losses of about 500,000 Kenyan shillings.
Other farmers have also questioned whether contaminated crops could explain the deaths. Rymondy Mrosso pointed to the presence of livestock and other wildlife in the same areas. “We have goats, cows and other wildlife such as gazelles that also feed in these areas,” Mrosso said. “If the crops were poisoned, why were only the elephants affected?”
Community representatives say the deaths occurred in different parts of the wider ecosystem, making it difficult to link them to a single source of contaminated food. They are calling for a broader investigation rather than placing blame on farmers without clear evidence.
The poisoning theory has also been questioned by Patrick Papatiti, head of operations for the Olgulului communal lands, which includes the Kitenden area where one of the affected elephants was found. Papatiti believes the animals could be suffering from a disease rather than poisoning. “It’s a disease,” he said.
Papatiti said some of the affected elephants remained in distress for several days before dying. “You would find one struggling for a day, struggling for two or even three days. Until they completely die,” he said.
He also pointed to another detail that has raised questions about the poisoning theory: hyenas and vultures were reportedly seen feeding on the elephant carcasses without dying themselves. Other animals in the area have also not shown the same symptoms.
The Kenya Wildlife Service says infectious disease was ruled out in preliminary investigations, while scientists continue to examine other possible environmental causes, including toxic substances or plants. The Kenya Veterinary Association has called for a transparent investigation, warning that if contaminated crops are responsible, the incident could have wider implications for livestock and human food safety.
The investigation took another turn on August 24, when Kenyan authorities arrested four people in connection with the elephant deaths. At the time, the confirmed death toll stood at 18. The suspects were later released on bail as investigations continued, while authorities searched for a fifth person believed to be linked to the case. Investigators also recovered assorted substances, including chemicals, in Tikondo, in Loitoktok sub-county.
But the arrests have not established who was responsible for the deaths or conclusively proven that poisoning caused all of them.
Then came the death of Genghis Khan. The 11-year-old elephant was found in the Kitenden B reserve, unable to stand and struggling to breathe. Veterinary teams tried to save him with a glucose injection, but he eventually died.
His death added urgency to the investigation. While cyanide has been detected in some samples, its source remains unknown, leaving authorities, farmers and conservation officials with more questions than answers.
For African elephants, the challenge is bigger than identifying what killed them. As farms and settlements expand into their traditional range, elephants can destroy crops and threaten livelihoods, while efforts to protect those livelihoods can put the animals at risk.
Elephants have survived poaching, habitat loss and conflict with people, but their resilience has limits. Their future may depend on whether communities and conservationists can find ways for people and wildlife to share the same landscape.
For now, one question remains unanswered: ‘What is killing the elephants of Amboseli, and can they survive it?’