SWT/KWS MOBILE VETERINARY UNITS TSAVO – MARA – MERU - AMBOSELI – MT KENYA January – March 2021 Report
Introduction
115 Cases
25 Poaching Cases
32 Elephant Cases
15 Predator Cases
23 HWC Cases
69% Success
January – March 2021 Report for Tsavo, Mara, Meru, Amboseli and Mt Kenya Units During January – March 2021, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and their five dedicated field veterinary officers, attended to 115 wildlife cases. Of the 115 cases, 25 cases were related to poaching and 23 to human-wildlife conflict. Of the poaching cases, 11 involved elephants which included 5 snared, 4 speared, 1 arrowed and 1 post-mortem with evident human involvement and missing tusks. There were 7 human-elephant conflict cases most of which were related to crop raiding and fence breaking, which is usually to access farms outside the Conservation Areas. One notorious crop raiding bull had to be relocated far away from human settlements. Other elephant cases included 5 treatments for natural causes, 8 post-mortems, assumed to be natural deaths and 1 rescue. The majority of the non-elephant cases was for plains game, namely 16 zebras, 1 eland, 19 bongos, 2 oryx, 1 generuk and 1 kudu. 10 of the zebras were treated for poaching wounds; 9 snares and 1 arrow. 3 giraffes were also snared and another treated for an arrow wound. Sadly 1 of the snared giraffes succumbed to its injuries. 7 giraffes were trapped within a fenced area meant for crops. The owners successfully drove out 3 of them but unfortunately, the remaining 4 died before the Vet Unit could get there. 12 predators were involved in human-wildlife conflict in 10 separate cases. 2 lions and 3 hyenas were all poisoned as retaliation for livestock predation. 4 lions and 1 spotted hyena were relocated back into protected areas after the communities reported they were preying on livestock, another lion accidentally became trapped in a boma and had to be relocated back into the park and a 3rd was speared to death as revealed by a post-mortem. Row Labels
Elephant Predators
Poaching
11
Human Wildlife Conflict
7
10
Natural Causes
5
4
Postmortem
8
Technical Cases Rescue
10
4
1
2
2
21
2
1
2
1
3
3
1
2
Relocation
1
Collared Grand Total
Rhino Plains Game Giraffe Buffalo Other Grand Total
1
25
1
2
34 1
13
5
11
2
6
1
2
1 32
15
23
1 7
40
10
3
8
115
115 Cases Attended by SWT/KWS Vet Units January - March 2021 40
35
30
.
Other Buffalo
25
Giraffe 20
Plains Game Rhinos
15
Predators Elephant
10
5
0 Poaching
Human Wildlife Conflict
Natural Causes
Postmortem
Technical Cases
Rescue
Relocation
Collared
48 Poaching and HWC Cases Attended by SWT/KWS Vet Units January - March 2021 18 16 14
Other
12
Buffalo
Case Details 10
Giraffe Plains Game
8
Predators
6
Elephant 4 2
Poaching
Human Wildlife Conflict
Crop Raiding
Poison
Spear
Relocation
Livestock Predation
Human Malice
Human Items
Fencing
Spear
Snared
Poaching Postmortem
Arrow
0
Outcomes of Cases Attended by SWT/KWS Vet Units January - March 2021 Taken to Orphanage 2%
Prognosis Poor 2%
Not Located 1%
Died 19%
Successful Cases 69%
HWC Death 5%
Poaching Death 2%
Outcomes of Cases Attended by SWT/KWS Vet Units January - March 2021
Mt Kenya
21
Amboseli
7
19
Meru
2
14
Mara
1
17
Tsavo
8
0 Successful Cases
4
1 1
2
8
10 Prognosis Poor
3
1 1
2
5
1
2
15 Poaching Death
20 HWC Death
25 Died
Taken to Orphanage
30 Not Located
35
SWT/KWS Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations Tsavo – Mara – Meru – Amboseli – Mt Kenya January – March 2021
SWT/KWS TSAVO MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OVERVIEW January – March 2021
18 Cases
3 Poaching Cases
7 Elephant Cases
In January, the Tsavo Ecosystem, much like the rest of the country, experienced uncharacteristic rains which helped keep the vegetation green and the waterholes full. However, by March the temperatures rose and the green colouration faded and the waterholes began to dry up, making life challenging for the inhabitants of Tsavo. During this quarter, the Unit attended to 18 Cases involving a number of different species. Notable cases included the ear-notching of 6 Black rhino in Tsavo East National Park, the successful treatment of two elephants with spear wounds, a giraffe with an arrow wound, relocation of a problem lion and collaring of 2 other problem lions. The Unit also treated two lions and two zebras for natural causes, amongst other cases. 18 Cases Attended by SWT/KWS Tsavo Vet Unit January - March 2021 6
5
4 Buffalo Giraffe 3
Plains Game Rhinos Predators
2
Elephant 1
0 Poaching
Human Wildlife Natural Causes Conflict
Postmortem
Technical Cases
Rescue
Collared
Outcomes of Cases Attended by SWT/KWS Tsavo Vet Unit January - March 2021
Died 44%
Successful Cases 45%
HWC Death 11%
SWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations January – March 2021
January 2021
To see the full report for Tsavo Vet Unit for the month of January 2021 click here February 2021
To see the full report for Tsavo Vet Unit for the month of February 2021 click here March 2021
To see the full report for Tsavo Vet Unit for the month of March 2021 click here
SWT/KWS MARA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OVERVIEW January – March 2021
19 Cases
12 Poaching Cases
6 Elephant Cases
The rains at the end of 2020 continued into 2021 which provided ample vegetation for herbivores. Predators however, seemed to have difficulties hunting due to the tall grass and thick bush and moved out of the Conservation area which resulted in an increase in human-wildlife conflict. However, by March the rains ceased, and the high temperatures started to dry out the ecosystem. There was an increase in snaring cases during this quarter, particularly in February. The Unit treated 8 zebras successfully and 1 giraffe for snare wounds, sadly the giraffe succumbed during treatment. The Unit also treated 2 elephants, one for an arrow wound and the other a spear wound as well as another zebra with an arrow wound, all of which survived. 19 Cases Attended by SWT/KWS Mara Vet Unit January - March 2021 14
12
10 Other 8
Giraffe Plains Game
6
Predators Elephant
4
2
0 Poaching
Human Wildlife Conflict
Natural Causes
Rescue
Outcomes of Cases Attended by SWT/KWS Mara Vet Unit January - March 2021
Successful Cases 90%
Died 5% Poaching Death 5%
SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations January – March 2020
January 2021
Mara Vet were on leave for the month of January 2021 February 2021
To see the full report for Mara Vet Unit for the month of February 2021 click here March 2021
To see the full report for Mara Vet Unit for the month of March 2021 click here
SWT/KWS MERU MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OVERVIEW January – March 2021
17 Cases
3 HWC Cases
3 Elephant Cases
The year started with lush vegetation, flowing rivers and full waterholes. The animals were in the best of health with abundant food and water available. February was both wet and dry with unusual rainstorms as usually this is a very dry month. However, this was welcome as it revitalised the drying vegetation. March was dry and hot, the green vegetation finally changed into dry browse, with the North East of Kenya hit with a severe drought. The Unit attended to 1 snared elephant and 1 snared zebra. There were 3 human-wildlife conflict cases during the quarter, sadly 1 lion was poisoned, 1 zebra was injured by a fence and a goat was treated after a hyena attack. Other cases include treatment of 5 endangered bongos, amongst others. 17 Cases Attended by SWT/KWS Meru Vet Unit January - March 2021 8 7 6 5
Other Giraffe
4
Plains Game Predators
3
Elephant 2 1 0 Poaching
Human Wildlife Conflict
Natural Causes
Postmortem
Technical Cases
Rescue
Outcomes of Cases Attended by SWT/KWS Meru Vet Unit January - March 2021
Died 12% Successful Cases 82%
HWC Death 6%
SWT/KWS Meru Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations January – March 2021
January 2021
To see the full report for Meru Vet Unit for the month of January 2021 click here
February 2021
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March 2021
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SWT/KWS AMBOSELI MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OVERVIEW January – March 2021
31 Cases
13 HWC Cases
13 Elephant Cases
The start of 2021 has been busy for the Amboseli Vet Unit with 31 cases attended to. Many of these cases were related to human-wildlife conflict. 3 elephants were treated for wounds caused when breaking fences and a notorious crop raiding elephant was relocated away from farms. Sadly, 2 elephants died from humanwildlife conflict injuries, 1 from spear wounds and other suffered a broken leg, presumably when being chased out of plantations. 2 lions were relocated as they were preying on livestock and sadly 3 hyenas were poisoned. The Unit also attended to 3 snared elephants and 2 snared giraffes which were all successfully treated. Other cases include 5 for natural causes, 2 post-mortems, 3 technical cases and 1 rescue. 31 Cases Attended by SWT/KWS Amboseli Vet Unit January - March 2021 14
12
10 Other Buffalo
8
Giraffe Plains Game
6
Rhinos Predators
4
Elephant 2
0 Poaching
Human Wildlife Conflict
Natural Causes
Postmortem
Technical Cases
Rescue
Outcomes of Cases Attended by SWT/KWS Amboseli Vet Unit January - March 2021 Prognosis Poor 7%
Taken to Orphanage 3% Not Located 3%
Died 13%
Successful Cases 61%
HWC Death 10%
Poaching Death 3%
SWT/KWS Amboseli Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations January – March 2021
January 2021
To see the full report for Amboseli Vet Unit for the month of January 2021 click here
February 2021
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March 2021
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SWT/KWS MT KENYA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OVERVIEW January – March 2021
30 Cases
5 Rhino Cases
5 Elephant Cases
During this quarter, there has been a decrease in poaching and human-wildlife conflict cases. The only cases encountered was 1 elephant with a rope snare around the leg and the relocation of a lion that was preying on livestock. The Unit helped to relocate two male white rhinos and assisted the Northern White Rhino Implantation project. They also travelled to Lake Nakuru to treat a rhino with filarial wounds. The Unit has been of great assistance to the Mt Kenya Wildlife Conservancy as they treated 15 of their endangered mountain bongos. Of the elephant cases, the Unit rescued 1 elephant from Laikipia, which was taken to the Nairobi Nursery, treated 2 for natural causes, 1 of which had to be euthanised and conducted 1 post-mortem. 30 Cases Attended by SWT/KWS Mount Kenya Vet Unit January - March 2021 16 14 12 10
Giraffe Plains Game
8
Rhinos Predators
6
Elephant 4 2 0 Poaching
Human Wildlife Natural Causes Conflict
Postmortem
Technical Cases
Rescue
Relocation
Outcomes of Cases Attended by SWT/KWS Mount Kenya Vet Unit January - March 2021
Taken to Orphanage 7%
Successful Cases 70% Died 23%
SWT/KWS Mt Kenya Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations January – March 2020
January 2021
To see the full report for Mt Kenya Vet Unit for the month of January 2021 click here
February 2021
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March 2021
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