A deadly poisoning incident near Amboseli National Park has wiped out at least six lions and thirty four vultures, delivering a major blow to one of East Africa’s most celebrated wildlife landscapes and raising fresh fears over the safety of endangered species in cross-border conservation areas.
The deaths occurred in the Kitenden area along the Kenya–Tanzania border after the animals fed on a cow carcass that had been deliberately laced with poison and left in the open.
The incident was reported on January 7 in a transboundary zone widely regarded as a model of coexistence between pastoralist communities and wildlife.
Wildlife authorities from Kenya and Tanzania have launched a joint investigation into the poisoning, with two suspects from Tanzania reportedly under close surveillance.
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In response, leaders of Kitenden Conservancy and the Orgulului Olalarashi Group Ranch imposed an immediate ban on livestock grazing by herders from Kitenden village in Tanzania.
The restriction will remain in place until the suspects are arrested and legal processes concluded, a move leaders say is meant to enforce accountability and deter further attacks on wildlife.
The decision has been supported by leaders on both sides of the border, including officials in Tanzania’s Longido District, who say the temporary ban is necessary to protect wildlife and prevent inter-community conflict.
Tanzanian wildlife authorities have assured conservation partners that those responsible will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Conservationists say the death of 34 vultures is particularly alarming, noting that the birds are critically endangered and play a vital role in disease control within the Amboseli ecosystem.
The Kitenden poisoning is now being viewed as a critical test of cross-border conservation cooperation, with experts warning that failure to secure justice could undo years of progress in protecting wildlife in the region.
By Benedict Aoya
