Fifteen elephants have died near Kenya’s Amboseli National Park after reportedly eating tomatoes sprayed with pesticides, with preliminary tests detecting cyanide in carcass samples. The suspected poisoning highlights growing tension between wildlife conservation and expanding farming around the park, where elephants frequently enter farmland seeking food and water.

The deaths occurred between 24 June and 24 July 2026 and involved elephants of varying ages and sexes; ten showed paralysis before dying within two days, while five were found dead. The Kenya Wildlife Service is still investigating but has ruled out foul play for now and says there is no immediate risk to people; more than 2,000 elephants live in the wider Amboseli ecosystem.