Conservation officials confirmed that ten lions have died in the Selous Game Reserve over the past month, with preliminary investigations pointing to poisoning as the likely cause. Veterinarians who performed necropsies found high levels of organophosphate compounds in the carcasses, suggesting deliberate poisoning, possibly linked to poaching activities or human‑wildlife conflict. Tanzania’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism has launched a joint task force with the World Wildlife Fund and local NGOs to trace the source of the toxin and to increase patrols in the area. The deaths represent a significant blow to the reserve’s already vulnerable lion population, which has declined by more than 40 % in the last decade.
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