At least 20 elephants have died in southern Kenya since June from an unknown ailment, sparking debate among wildlife experts about the cause of the deaths.
The latest victim, an 11-year-old male elephant named Genghis Khan, died on Tuesday in the Kitenden B reserve after struggling to breathe and stand. Veterinarians administered a glucose injection, but the animal succumbed to the mysterious illness that has killed mostly female and young male elephants in the Amboseli region.
All affected animals have shown identical symptoms, including partial paralysis that prevents them from standing.
Cyanide theory faces scepticism
In late July, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said toxicology reports found high concentrations of cyanide in the carcasses, suggesting possible pesticide poisoning from nearby farms. However, several specialists have dismissed this theory.
Patrick Papatiti, head of operations for Olgulului communal lands, which includes the reserve where Genghis Khan was found, insisted there was “no way” cyanide was involved.
“It’s a disease,” said Papatiti, who was born and raised in the local Maasai community.
He pointed out that no other animals, including scavengers and flies that fed on the carcasses, have died. Creatures that consume poisoned animals typically die as well.
Joel Nyika, the Amboseli ecosystem manager for the Kajiado County authorities, agreed. “If another animal feeds on that carcass and it is not dying, then definitely it is not a chemical,” he said.
Nyika also rejected the theory that cyanide might have come from foliage, noting that local livestock would have died as well.
Deaths hurt local communities
Elephant herds have made Amboseli, overlooked by Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, a popular tourist destination. The mysterious deaths are a sensitive issue in Kenya, where tourism is a major source of revenue.
Maasai farmers rejected the possibility of poison. Noah Saatia (52), standing in his maize crop protected by fences, said they eat the same vegetation as the elephants.
“When they die, it hurts us,” he said. “We don’t know the cause of the elephant deaths, but they are not dying because of food — that’s for sure.”
Calls for urgent investigation
AFP journalists observed six carcasses in one day at the Kimana reserve, some fresh and others older. The dead included a four-month-old calf and a pregnant female elephant who had died near full term.
Paula Kahumbu, conservationist and head of Wildlife Direct, highlighted the “lack of evidence” supporting the pesticide theory. She noted that few adult male elephants had died, even though they are the ones most likely to raid crops.
On 7 August, the KWS said their findings did not indicate an infectious or transmissible disease, assuring tourists they could continue to visit the area.
Papatiti fears the death toll is being underestimated and that the illness may also be affecting elephants in neighbouring Tanzania.
“How many elephants will die before we can stop this?” he said.
