Mysterious elephant deaths in Kenya baffle experts
At least 20 elephants have died since June in a wildlife area of southern Kenya near Tanzania and Mount Kilimanjaro, and the cause remains unknown.
Since June, at least 19 elephants have died under mysterious circumstances in a wildlife region of southern Kenya near the Tanzanian border and Mount Kilimanjaro. Patrick Papatiti, head of operations for the Olgulului communal lands, says the toll has now risen to 20, while authorities continue searching for an explanation.
Early laboratory tests pointed to cyanide poisoning, potentially linked to pesticides used on nearby farmland. However, local wildlife experts remain unconvinced, noting that other animals that fed on the elephant carcasses have shown no signs of poisoning themselves.
Days of suffering before death
Papatiti describes the elephants struggling to walk and breathe, growing restless, and eventually becoming unable to stand. Some animals have reportedly lain on the ground for one, two or even three days before dying.
The deaths follow Kenya's severe 2022 drought, but Papatiti says current conditions do not suggest a shortage of food or water — pasture and water are currently abundant in the area, and the ecosystem is under protection.
What deepens the mystery is the behaviour of scavengers: hyenas, vultures and flies that have fed on the carcasses have not been affected. This has cast doubt on the cyanide theory, and experts admit they currently have no clear idea what is causing the deaths.
Papatiti also raised concerns about whether the unknown cause could eventually spread to livestock and, in turn, affect the local community. Farmers in the Kimana area say they too are struggling to make sense of the situation. Wildlife experts and authorities are continuing their investigation, but the cause of the die-off remains unresolved.
