Amboseli elephant death toll at 16 as KWS rules out infectious disease, awaits final test results

The death toll from the period between June 24 and July 24 was 15 elephants.

In a statement on Friday, August 7, KWS assured the public and tourism stakeholders that Amboseli National Park remains safe and fully operational as investigations into the deaths of 16 elephants continue.

It said findings so far do not indicate the elephants died from an infectious or transmissible disease, easing fears that the deaths could pose a wider threat to wildlife or visitors.

The agency, however, said it is still awaiting completion of confirmatory laboratory tests before conclusively determining the cause of each individual elephant death.

Preliminary laboratory analysis by the University of Nairobi has pointed to cyanide poisoning as the probable cause in the cases examined, but KWS said further testing is required to match laboratory findings with each case and establish how the elephants were exposed to the toxic substance.

The deaths, reported between June 24 and July 31 across the Amboseli-Kimana-Kitenden ecosystem, involved mainly adult female elephants and calves, which exhibited weakness and partial paralysis before dying.

KWS said it has deployed veterinary and scientific teams to investigate the incident and is working with the Government Chemist and the University of Nairobi to conduct toxicological, microbiological and environmental analyses, including testing water sources and other possible contaminants.

The wildlife agency has also requested the Pest Control Products Board to lead a multi-agency investigation into whether pesticides or other crop-protection chemicals were improperly used, stored or disposed of in the wider Amboseli ecosystem. Investigators are also examining whether giant star grass, a cyanogenic plant species, may have contributed to the poisoning.

KWS said it has intensified ranger patrols, elephant surveillance and veterinary monitoring across the ecosystem and pledged to provide further updates as investigations progress.