Kenya: 26 elephants die in 3 months, reason unknown

By Magdalene Mukami</p> <p>NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) – At least 26 elephants died, 11 others are suspected to have been poisoned in a wildlife reserve in southwestern Kenya in three months, a new report revealed on Wednesday.</p> <p>Released by the Mara Elephant Project (MEP), the report said the cause of the deaths in the Maasai Mara National Reserve between September and November is unknown, dismissing poaching.</p> <p>Conflict between human and wildlife may have resulted in the casualties, according to the report.</p> <p>The deaths were recorded within the Mara Game Reserve ecosystem, MEP told Anadolu Agency.</p> <p>In search of an answer to the cause of the killings, the report said: “Based on the location and circumstances of these unknown deaths, there is some evidence that points to poisoning as a result of conflict retaliation.”</p> <p>It added: “And there are some unknown deaths that point to pesticide poisoning.”</p> <p>MEP said that Kiprotich Limo, a Kenya Wildlife Service vet, found no indication of disease in the elephants during the post mortem examinations.</p> <p>“We are looking for some evidence that poison was used to kill the elephants. If a strong pesticide was found in their system, that may have resulted in the deaths,” the report stated.</p> <p>Kenya Wildlife Service laboratories are yet to release all their findings from the postmortem examinations.</p> <p>It is only after the findings are released that MEP can be able to ascertain the rise in elephant deaths, the report added.