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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Carlos Mureithi in Nairobi

Fifteen elephant deaths in Kenya may be due to cyanide poisoning

A large elephant with tusks stands near three younger elephants interacting at Amboseli National Park
A KWS investigation found 10 of the elephants had shown signs of partial paralysis before dying and tests had detected a potential toxic substance. Photograph: Xinhua/Shutterstock

The recent deaths of 15 elephants near a park in southern Kenya were likely caused by the animals ingesting pesticides used on tomato farms, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has said.

Erustus Kanga, the agency’s director general, told Citizen TV that analysis of samples collected from the carcasses had found traces of cyanide, a chemical compound used in farming as a predator control poison and a pest fumigant, which has also been used by poachers.

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