Farmers in Kenya dispute that cyanide poisoning could have killed 15 elephants

Farmers in Kenya dispute that cyanide poisoning could have killed 15 elephants 1 of 5 | The carcass of an elephant suspected to have died from pesticide poisoning lies in the Kitenden village, on the outskirts of Amboseli National Park in Kajiado County, Kenya, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku) 2 of 5 | Women harvest tomatoes in a field in Kimana, on the outskirts of Amboseli National Park in Kajiado County, Kenya, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku) 3 of 5 | An elephant walks past a homestead in the Kitenden village, on the outskirts of Amboseli National Park in Kajiado County, Kenya, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku) 4 of 5 | Farmers spray pesticides at a tomato farm in Kimana, on the outskirts of Amboseli National Park in Kajiado County, Kenya, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku) 5 of 5 | A herd of elephants walks across Amboseli National Park in Kajiado County, Kenya, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku) By Evelyne Musambi Updated 6:17 AM MESZ, August 7, 2026 Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Kimana, Kenya (AP) — The carcass of one elephant lies on a dusty road, while another has been almost completely eaten by scavengers, leaving just the skull. They are among 15 elephants that died of suspected cyanide poisoning in Kenya’s Amboseli National Park after eating tomatoes in nearby farms. Investigations are ongoing into how cyanide found its way to an ecosystem where wild and domestic animals coexist and farms grow tomatoes and onions, but growers are disputing claims that cyanide from their tomatoes killed the elephants. The elephant deaths and disputes about the cause have intensified concerns over growing human-wildlife conflict in the region due to expanding agricultural activities near Amboseli park. Kenya has until recently been widely recognized for rebuilding its elephant population from historic lows to more than 36,000 individuals by reducing poaching and protecting elephants. Farmers skeptical cyanide from their farms killed elephants Elvis Muchai has farmed on the edge of Amboseli for two decades. In all that time, he said, he has never heard of farmers poisoning wildlife. That is why he was skeptical of reports last month that the 15 elephants had died from suspected cyanide poisoning after consuming tomatoes believed to have been contaminated with the chemical. Kenya says 15 elephants died of cyanide poisoning after eating tomatoes from nearby farms 3 MIN READ The deaths of 15 elephants in Kenya’s Amboseli National Park spark investigation 7 MIN READ Ebola quarantine center for Americans is up and working in Kenya despite a court ban, activists say 7 MIN READ Muchai, who farms tomatoes in Kimana area, said local communities have long coexisted with elephants despite suffering repeated crop losses when the animals cross the park’s electric fence and raid farms, particularly during the dry season. “We are used to the animals eating from our farms,” he said. Last month, the Kenya Wildlife Service announced that 15 elephants had died in the Amboseli ecosystem in a span of a month. Preliminary laboratory tests detected cyanide, while postmortem examinations found tomatoes in the animals’ stomachs. The head of veterinary services at Kenya’s wildlife agency, Dr. Isaac Lekolool, said the elephants had shown signs of “paralysis and difficulty breathing” before they died. Initial tests pointed to cyanide poisoning, although further laboratory tests are being done to determine the concentration of cyanide. “We are yet to find out where this cyanide came from,” Lekolool said, adding that the elephants had also consumed watermelons. He urged caution over the handling and use of pesticides on farms. Kimana, which borders Amboseli, is one of Kenya’s most productive agricultural areas, growing tomatoes, onions and French beans that are transported to markets to the capital, Nairobi. The samples tested for toxic chemicals were obtained from the elephants’ stomach contents and the analysis of blood samples is ongoing, Dr. Lekolool said. He disputed earlier claims that cyanide, which is regulated by the government for use in mining, may have been present in the park due to illegal mining. Farms have expanded near the park and conflict between people and elephants remains the second leading cause of deaths after poaching, according to Kenya’s National Elephant Plan. Between 2000 and 2020, at least 1,160 elephants died in incidents linked to self-defense or retaliatory killings as communities sought to protect their crops, property and lives, the Plan notes. But Duncan Juma, communications director of Kenya’s wildlife service, ruled out human-wildlife conflict in the death of the elephants, saying “the community loves these animals.” The International Fund for Animal Welfare, or IFAW, said the recent suspected cyanide poisoning highlights the urgent need to tackle the underlying causes of human-wildlife conflict. “As people and elephants increasingly share space, protecting wildlife and safeguarding communities’ livelihoods must go hand in hand,” IFAW wrote in a statement. IFAW’S East Africa Director Ben Wandago said the reported cyanide poisoning must be “urgently and thoroughly investigated” and recommended that coexistence solutions to protect communities living near the park be implemented. “This tragedy also underscores the urgent need for the strict control and responsible handling of highly toxic substances to prevent them from entering the natural environment,” he said. Farmers are doubtful that the cyanide could have originated from commonly used agricultural inputs. Muchai said he has never encountered cyanide among the pesticides or chemicals sold to farmers in the area and insisted that products available on the market are regulated by the Kenyan government. “The chemical they are talking about, we’ve never seen it or heard of it here,” he said. Last season alone, Muchai said elephants destroyed about half an acre of his tomato crop, costing him an estimated 500,000 Kenya shillings ($3,800). “We have lived with these animals for years. They eat our crops, and many of us have never received compensation,” he said. Another farmer, Rymondy Mrosso, also questioned whether pesticides used by local farmers could explain the deaths and wondered why only elephants appeared to have been affected. “We have goats, cows and other wildlife such as gazelles that also feed in these areas,” he said. “If the crops were poisoned, why were only the elephants affected?” For more on Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. Evelyne Musambi Musambi is an Associated Press reporter based in Nairobi, Kenya. She covers regional security, geopolitics, trade relations and foreign policy across East Africa. twitter mailto