Mysterious deaths of 14 elephants in Kenya prompts urgent inquiry
An investigation has been launched after 14 elephants were found dead near Amboseli National Park in southern Kenya, with officials seeking to determine the cause.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) told the BBC that experts are examining the carcasses and tissue samples have been sent to labs to check for disease, poisoning, or other factors.
The Amboseli ecosystem, straddling the Tanzania border, is famous for its wildlife. Officials say such a scale of elephant deaths hasn't been seen in decades in this region, where anti-poaching efforts have been successful.
KWS says there is no evidence yet of a single cause. The dead elephants include various ages and sexes, indicating the deaths are not limited to one group.
KWS head of communication Duncan Wanyama said the carcasses were found at different locations 15-30 km from the park boundaries.
According to the Amboseli Trust for Elephants, over 2,000 elephants lived in the ecosystem as of 2025.
