Kenyan authorities have launched an urgent investigation after 14 elephants died in the area of Amboseli National Park in the south of the country, BBC News reports.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said specialists are examining the animals’ remains. Tissue samples have already been sent to laboratories to determine the cause of death — possible explanations include infectious diseases, poisoning, or other factors.

The dead elephants were found in different locations around the Amboseli ecosystem — a vast natural area on the border between Kenya and Tanzania known for its rich wildlife. According to KWS, the bodies were located 15 to 30 kilometers from the boundaries of the national park.

Agency representatives note that there are currently no signs pointing to a single cause of the animals’ deaths. The dead elephants include individuals of different ages and sexes, ruling out a scenario involving only one family group or a specific age category.

KWS said that elephant deaths on this scale have not been recorded in the region for several decades. This is particularly noteworthy because Kenyan authorities have achieved a significant reduction in poaching in recent years.

According to data from the organization Amboseli Trust for Elephants, which tracks the population and movements of the animals, more than 2,000 elephants were counted in the Amboseli ecosystem in 2025.