15 elephants die in southern Kenya, suspected pesticide‑tainted tomatoes

A record number of elephant deaths has been reported in southern Kenya, but officials say foul play has been ruled out. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) confirmed that investigations into the mortality spike, which has affected more than 120 animals in the past six months, found no evidence of poaching, illegal hunting or other criminal activity.

Veterinary teams conducting necropsies identified a combination of severe drought conditions and a bacterial infection as the primary drivers of the deaths. The affected area, spanning the Tsavo East National Park and adjacent conservancies, has experienced below‑average rainfall for two consecutive seasons, leading to depleted water sources and weakened immune systems among the herd. Laboratory analysis detected anthrax spores in several carcasses, a disease known to proliferate in arid environments, prompting KWS to initiate targeted vaccination and carcass disposal protocols to curb further spread.

KWS and partner NGOs will maintain heightened surveillance and continue treatment efforts, while also working with local communities to improve water access for wildlife. The agency emphasized that ongoing monitoring will be essential to prevent a recurrence of such large‑scale mortality events and to safeguard the region’s elephant population.