Spate of Elephant Deaths Linked to Poisoned Tomatoes

UPDATE Jul 30, 2026 12:30 AM CDT

Kenyan officials say a wave of elephant deaths may trace back to tomatoes that had been tainted with cyanide. Fifteen elephants found dead over the past month near Amboseli National Park are suspected to have eaten crops laced with the poison, according to preliminary lab tests cited by the Kenya Wildlife Service. CBS News reports no suspects have been named, though farmers have previously been accused of poisoning elephants to protect their fields in the farming-and-livestock belt bordering the park. The KWS' director warned the harm could spread: "We have the goats. We have the cattle that are there. Eventually, if this is truly what is in the system, then we are going to see a bigger impact."

Jul 28, 2026 5:20 PM CDT

A spike in elephant deaths has wildlife experts looking for answers in Kenya's famed Amboseli ecosystem. Kenya Wildlife Service says it has launched an urgent probe after 14 elephants were found dead in various locations in recent days; tissue samples are being analyzed for disease, poisoning, or other possible causes. The carcasses include males and females of various ages, indicating the deaths aren't confined to a single herd or age group, reports the BBC. More than 2,000 elephants roam the Amboseli ecosystem, which stretches into Tanzania, according to 2025 figures from the Amboseli Trust for Elephants.