Officials have yet to determine the substance involved or establish whether the animals were deliberately killed

Ten lions have been found dead at Tanzania's UNESCO-listed Ngorongoro Conservation Area, prompting an investigation into suspected poisoning, the authorities have said.

The animals were discovered on Friday in the Ndutu area of Endulen Ward, according to a notice issued by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA). "Preliminary findings suggest the animals may have died after ingesting poison," the agency said.

The NCAA has launched an expert investigation to establish the cause of the deaths and identify those responsible. It did not disclose the animals' ages or sexes or say what substance may have been involved.

Poisoning is a recurring threat to large carnivores in East Africa and is frequently associated with conflict between predators and livestock owners. However, the authorities have not established whether the latest deaths resulted from deliberate poisoning or identified a possible motive.

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In 2018, six lions and 74 vultures died after feeding on a poisoned cattle carcass near Tanzania's Ruaha National Park. Conservation groups said the poisoning appeared to have been carried out in retaliation after lions attacked livestock, although no suspect was identified.

The latest deaths come a month after 18 elephants were found dead in Kenya's Amboseli ecosystem near the Tanzanian border. Preliminary tests indicated possible exposure to a toxic substance. Four suspects were arrested and later released on bail pending further investigation. In January, six lions and more than 30 vultures were killed in a poisoning incident in Kenya's Kitenden Conservancy, also near the Tanzanian border.

Tanzania has an estimated 17,200 lions, the world's largest national population, according to a 2024-2025 wildlife census released by the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute in June. Around 5,844 live in the northern tourism circuit, which includes Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Tarangire and Lake Manyara.

Ngorongoro is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where ethnic Maasai pastoralists coexist with lions, elephants, buffaloes, black rhinos and other wildlife.

The Tanzanian Tourism Ministry said the country received 993,771 international tourists during the first half of 2026. Attractions managed by the NCAA recorded 331,349 domestic and foreign visits during the period, an annual increase of 7.6%.

(RT.com)