An urgent investigation has been launched into the mysterious deaths of 14 elephants in southern Kenya near the Amboseli National Park. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) confirmed that experts are examining the carcasses and that tissue samples have been sent to laboratories to determine whether disease, poisoning or another factor caused the fatalities.
Officials say this is the first time in decades that elephant mortalities on such a scale have been recorded in the region, where anti-poaching measures have successfully reduced elephant populations at risk. The decedents included elephants of different ages and sexes, suggesting the deaths were not limited to a single family or demographic.
KWS head of communication, Duncan Wanyama, said the bodies were found at various locations surrounding the park, between 15 and 30 kilometres from its boundaries. The Amboseli Trust for Elephants, which tracks the animals, estimates that more than 2,000 elephants roamed the ecosystem as of 2025.
No single cause of death has been identified yet, and KWS says further analysis will be completed once laboratory results are available. The investigation is urgent, as the findings will help shape future conservation strategies.
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