Four arrested over Amboseli elephants deaths

A multiagency team of investigators has arrested four people in connection with the poisoning of elephants at the Amboseli ecosystem that left 18 dead, Tourism CS Rebecca Miano has announced.

The team is made up of investigators from the Kenya Wildlife Service, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the National Intelligence Service.

Miano said that the government was ‘deeply concerned’ by the deaths of jumbos saying 15 deaths were recorded between June 24 and 24th July 24, 2026.

The other three are believed to have died after that period.

“Thus far, comprehensive field investigations, laboratory analysis and environmental sampling have been undertaken,” said Miano.

“Preliminary laboratory results point to the probable involvement of a toxic substance, with earlier indications suggesting cyanide poisoning arising from the ingestion of pesticide-contaminated tomatoes sourced from farms adjacent to wildlife habitats.”

The CS added that the findings from the laboratory probe are subject to further scientific verification before the investigation is completed.