Poison Suspected in Deaths of Ten Lions in Tanzania Game Reserve

Ten lions were found dead in Tanzania's Ngorongoro Conservation Area on Friday, and wildlife officials suspect poisoning, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority said in a statement.

"Preliminary findings suggest the animals may have died after ingesting poison," the authority said, adding it has launched a full investigation "to determine the cause of the incident and identify those responsible."

The conservation area is one of Tanzania's most visited tourist destinations and is also home to pastoral tribal communities that raise cattle, placing wildlife and people in close contact.

Tanzania is home to Africa's largest lion population — about half the world's wild lions — but the species is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Lions are under threat from shrinking habitat and poaching, and mass die-offs can carry particular weight for the species.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site protected under international law. It contains the Ngorongoro Crater and is home to the Big Five game animals — the elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, and rhino.

The deaths raise broader concerns about wildlife poisonings across East Africa. An investigation is underway in neighboring Kenya, where over the summer 18 elephants died from suspected poisoning. Police there have arrested four people. Kenya's Wildlife Service said preliminary tests showed the elephants may have ingested cyanide. Tomato farmers in the Amboseli region are known to use banned pesticides on their crops, though growers deny using cyanide.

Reporting by NPR. Read the original report: Poison suspected in deaths of ten lions in game reserve in Tanzania.