Ten lions have been found dead in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with preliminary findings pointing to suspected poisoning, wildlife authorities said.
The lions were discovered on September 18 in the Ndutu area of Endulen Ward in Tanzania’s northern Arusha region, according to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority.
“Preliminary findings suggest the animals may have died after ingesting poison,” the authority said in a statement issued late Saturday.
Officials said an investigation was under way to establish the exact cause of death and identify those responsible.
The deaths have renewed concern over threats facing lions in one of Africa’s most important wildlife ecosystems. Poisoning remains a recurring danger to large carnivores in parts of East Africa, particularly in areas where predators come into conflict with livestock owners.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Tanzania’s best-known tourism destinations, supports a wide range of wildlife including lions, elephants, buffaloes and endangered black rhinos.
The incident comes weeks after police in neighbouring Kenya arrested four suspects over the deaths of 18 elephants, highlighting broader concerns over wildlife killings across the region.
