肯尼亚南部安博塞利国家公园周边地区在过去一个月内发生大象集体死亡事件。[1]肯尼亚野生动物服务部门确认，6月24日至7月24日期间共有15头大象死亡，死因可能与该地区番茄农场使用的含氰化物农药有关。[1]验尸样本检测出氰化物痕迹，其中一头象的胃内发现大量番茄。[1]
其中10头大象死前出现部分瘫痪症状。[1]肯尼亚野生动物服务部门主任埃鲁斯图斯·康加表示，"如果大象摄入氰化物，它们活不过一两天"。[1]该地区覆盖392平方公里，是1600多头大象的栖息地。[1]
专家警告，该毒素可能通过当地牲畜进一步扩散到更广泛的种群。[1]肯尼亚和津巴布韦曾有农民和偷猎者使用氰化物毒害野生动物的历史。[1]
Fifteen elephants have died in areas surrounding Amboseli National Park in southern Kenya over the past month, with authorities suspecting cyanide poisoning as the cause.[1] The Kenya Wildlife Service confirmed that the animals likely ingested cyanide-laced pesticides used on nearby tomato farms in the region.[1] Autopsies of the deceased elephants revealed traces of cyanide, and one elephant's stomach contained large quantities of tomatoes.[1]
The deaths occurred between June 24 and July 24, with ten of the elephants exhibiting partial paralysis before dying.[1] Kenya Wildlife Service Director Erustus Kanga stated that "if elephants ingest cyanide, they cannot survive more than a day or two."[1] The affected area covers 392 square kilometers and serves as habitat for more than 1,600 elephants.[1] Experts have warned that the toxin could potentially spread to a wider population through local livestock in the region.[1] Kenya and Zimbabwe have documented previous incidents of farmers and poachers using cyanide to poison wildlife.[1]