The animals are believed to have died after feeding on a cow carcass deliberately laced with poison in the Kitenden area along the Kenya–Tanzania border. The incident occurred two days ago and is already being described by conservationists as one of the most serious poisoning cases ever recorded in the Amboseli ecosystem.
Wildlife authorities from both Kenya and Tanzania have launched joint investigations, with reports indicating that two suspects from Tanzania are under close surveillance as inquiries intensify.
In response to the incident, the leadership of Kitenden Conservancy and the Orgulului/Olalarashi Group Ranch imposed an immediate ban on livestock grazing by herders from Kitenden village in Tanzania. The ban will remain in force until the suspects are arrested and all legal processes are concluded.
Orgulului/Olalarashi Group Ranch chairman Daniel ole Leturesh said the tough measure is intended to compel cooperation with investigators and restore accountability.
“No livestock from Kitenden village will be allowed into the conservancy until the culprits are identified and handed over to authorities. Accountability must come first for harmony to prevail,” Leturesh said.
The decision has received strong backing from leaders on both sides of the border. Loomoni Olesiate Mole, Olmolo Ward councillor in Tanzania’s Longido District, said the temporary restriction is necessary to prevent retaliatory conflict between communities and to safeguard wildlife.
“This measure is meant to stop conflict between communities and to ensure justice for the wildlife,” he said.
Tanzanian authorities have also vowed decisive action. John Magembe, Chief Officer for Wildlife Management at the Enduimet Wildlife Management Area, assured that all individuals involved will be brought to justice.
“The government of Tanzania will ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and that the law takes its course,” Magembe stated.
Kitenden Conservancy chairman Sayialel Ole Noombaek echoed the hardline stance, insisting that grazing will not resume until all suspects are arraigned in court, emphasizing that wildlife protection is non-negotiable.
Conservationists have raised particular alarm over the death of 34 vultures, noting that the birds are among the most endangered species in the region. Vultures play a crucial role in disease control and ecological balance by disposing of carcasses quickly. Their continued poisoning poses a grave threat to the overall health of the Amboseli ecosystem.
The Kitenden poisoning incident is now viewed as a critical test of cross-border cooperation in wildlife protection. Conservation groups warn that failure to act decisively could undo decades of conservation gains in the greater Amboseli landscape.
