SWT/KWS Mobile Veterinary Units Quarterly Report April - June 2023

SWT/KWS MOBILE VETERINARY UNITS TSAVO, MARA, MERU, AMBO MT KENYA, RIFT VALLEY April – June 2023 Report

Introduction

176 Cases

68 Poaching Cases

63 Elephant Cases

24 Predator Cases

27 HWC Cases

67% Success

April – June 2023 Report for Tsavo, Mara, Meru, Amboseli, Mt Kenya and Rift Valley Units.

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT), in conjunction with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) operate six Mobile Veterinary Units. Within the quarter, the Units attended to a total of 176 wildlife cases involving 197 animals.

There were 63 elephant, 24 predator, 8 rhino, 49 plains game, 19 giraffes, 3 buffalo cases as well as 3 security dogs cases, treatment and translocation of a python found in a school and management of a hippo with two spear wounds that unfortunately had to be euthanised.

Out of the poaching cases, there were 35 snaring cases, 19 spear, 12 arrow and 2 bullet wounds. 26 elephants, 26 plains game, 8 giraffes, 2 buffalo, 3 rhinos and 1 wild dog were treated for poaching related injuries. Sadly 3 elephant, 2 rhino, 3 zebra, 1 buffalo and 1 hippo succumbed to their injuries. 3 elephants were also given a poor prognosis.

Human-wildlife conflict cases continue to be prominent involving a various species for a variety of reasons.

A waterbuck was relocated after it knocked down a hotel worker and a buffalo strayed into a farm threatening the workers. 11 elephants had to be relocated due to proximity to communities or persistent fence breaking. Sadly one of the elephants died due to anaesthesia complications. Two lions were relocated due to livestock predation and one leopard was taken into captivity after it attacked two people. It could not survive naturally in the wild as it had an amputation due to a snare wound. A further 9 lions were poisoned in retatliation to livestock predation as well as 1 vulture and 1 elephant. 5 of the lions were successfully treated, all the others succumbed to the poison.

Of the cases there was a 67% success rate and 14% death rate due to poaching or human-wildlife conflict.

Case Details Poaching HWC Natural Causes Postmortem Technical Cases Rescue Relocation Collared Grand Total

Elephant

Predators

26 9 20 5

1 11 11

Rhinos Plains Game Giraffe 3 2 1 1

Buffalo

Other

Grand Total 68 27 65 9 2 3 1 1 176

26 1 20 2

8 4 7

2 1

2 1 5 1 1

49

19

3

10

3 1 63

1 24

8

197 Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Vet Units April - June 2023 80

.

70

60 Other

50

Buffalo Giraffe 40

Plains Game Rhinos

30

Predators Elephant

20

10

0 Poaching

HWC

Natural Causes

Postmortem

Rescue

Collared

Relocation

Technical Cases

114 Poaching and HWC Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Vet Units April - June 2023 40 35 30 25 Other

20

Buffalo

Giraffe

15

Plains Game 10

Rhinos Predators

5

Elephant

Poaching

HWC

Poison

Manhole

Livestock Predation

Human Malice

Fencing

Panga

Spear

Animal Attack

Relocation

Bullet Wound

Arrow

Spear

Snared

0

Outcomes of Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Vet Units April - June 2023

Prognosis Poor 8%

Poaching Death 5%

HWC Death 9%

Successful Cases 67%

Died 8%

Taken to Orphanage 3%

Outcomes of Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Vet Units April - June 2023

Rift Valley

33

Amboseli

15

Meru

1

12

Mt Kenya

11

2

5

6

6

22

Tsavo

10

1

1

1 2 1

3

5

1 2 1

31

0

3

3

18

Mara

1

4

20

30

1

9

40

2

2

50

Prognosis Poor Death HWC Death Died Taken to Orphanage SWT/KWS MobilePoaching Vet Unit Treatment Locations

Successful Cases

60

Tsavo – Mara – Meru – Amboseli – Mt Kenya – Rift Valley April – June 2023

SWT/KWS TSAVO MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OVERVIEW April – June 2023

42 Cases

17 Poaching Cases

23 Elephant Cases

The Tsavo Conservation Area generally received moderate to good precipitation in April and some in May which provided enough water and forage for wildlife throughout the quarter. The rains stopped during June, but the area had received enough to keep water pans fairly full of adequate vegetation. The Tsavo Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to 42 cases during the quarter including 6 snare, 6 spear, 4 arrow, and 1 bullet wound. Some of the cases attended to in May were in the Amboseli Conservation Area. Some significant cases included the rescue of an elephant calf after it was confirmed to have been abandoned by its mother and 22 other elephant cases. Two rogue elephant bulls had to be relocated after causing significant conflict and danger within community areas. A black rhino in Ngulia Sanctuary was successfully treated for filarial worms and an injured rock python found by children within there school was treated and safely relocated.

42 Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Tsavo Vet Unit April - June 2023 20 18 16 14

Other Buffalo

12

Giraffe 10

Plains Game Rhinos

8

Predators 6

Elephant

4 2 0 Poaching

HWC

Natural Causes

Rescue

Outcomes of Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Tsavo Vet Unit April - June 2023 Prognosis Poor 8% Poaching Death 2%

HWC Death 19%

Successful Cases 63% Died 4%

Taken to Orphanage 4%

SWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations April – June 2023

April 2023

To see the full report for Tsavo Vet Unit for the month of April 2023 click here

May 2023

To see the full report for Tsavo Vet Unit for the month of May 2023 click here

June 2023

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SWT/KWS MARA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OVERVIEW April – June 2023

35 Cases

21 Poaching Cases

14 Elephant Cases

The Mara Vet Unit Attended to 35 cases this quarter. The majority of these cases were as a result of poaching, including 7 speared elephants, 3 arrowed elephants, 2 snared rhinos, 1 snared wildebeest, and 3 snared zebras. Additionally, 3 giraffe and 1 hippo were also treated for spear or arrow wounds. Most of the animals were given a good prognosis after treatment, but the hippo, 1 elephant and 2 rhinos succumbed to their injures. Other cases involved a lion which was trapped inside an electric fence and had to be relocated and a rogue elephant that was causing issues in the community and was relocated, but sadly died due to anaesthesia complications. The Unit also rescued one elephant calf who is doing well at the nursery.

35 Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Mara Vet Unit April - June 2023 25

20 Other Giraffe

15

Plains Game Rhinos Predators

10

Elephant

5

0 Poaching

HWC

Natural Causes

Postmortem

Rescue

Technical Cases

Outcomes of Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Mara Vet Unit April - June 2023

Prognosis Poor 8% Poaching Death 14%

Successful Cases 66%

Died 6%

HWC Death 3%

Taken to Orphanage 3%

SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations April – June 2023

April 2023

To see the full report for Mara Vet Unit for the month of April 2023 click here

May 2023

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June 2023

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SWT/KWS MERU MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OVERVIEW April – June 2023

17 Cases

5 Poaching Cases

5 Elephant Cases

The Meru Conservation Area received substantial rainfall throughout April resulting in an increase in forage and water for wildlife. Intermittent rain showers were experienced during May and with forage abundant and ample water supply there was a myriad of wildlife and numerous baby elephant and eland calves.

Significant cases within this period include treatment of two male lions in Meru National Park and Solio Ranch for fight wounds and treating an elephant bull with spear and arrow wounds in Meru National Park with a follow up treatment a month later. In Mwea National Reserve, the veterinary team treated 2 Rothschild female giraffes (a sub-adult and an adult) for injuries caused by wire snare and one for natural causes. Three zebras were also treated, one for a failed predation attempt and two for snare injuries.

17 Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Meru Vet Unit April - June 2023 12

.

10

8 Other Giraffe 6

Plains Game Predators Elephant

4

2

0 Poaching

HWC

Natural Causes

Technical Cases

Outcomes of Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Meru Vet Unit April - June 2023

Prognosis Poor 6% Poaching Death 6%

Successful Cases 70% Died 18%

SWT/KWS Meru Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations April – June 2023

April 2023

To see the full report for Meru Vet Unit for the month of April 2023 click here

May 2023

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June 2023

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SWT/KWS AMBOSELI MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OVERVIEW April – June 2023

21 Cases

3 Poaching Cases

13 Elephant Cases

The Southern Conservation Area received rains in April and forage was plenty for wildlife through May. Elephants and other wildlife moved outside the park given the availability of forage. The Area experienced dry weather conditions in June. There was plenty of forage within the park, but wildlife preferred foraging outside the park. Most of the veterinary cases attended to over this period were predominantly attributed to human-wildlife conflict. The planned translocation of 2 elephant bulls were eventually collared and released for further monitoring. One lion was relocated, whilst two others were speared and another 8 lions were poisoned, none of which survived. All of these cases were due to livestock predation.

21 Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Amboseli Vet Unit April - June 2023 9 8 7 6 Giraffe 5

Plains Game Predators

4

Elephant 3 2 1 0 Poaching

HWC

Natural Causes

Postmortem

Rescue

Outcomes of Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Amboseli Vet Unit April - June 2023 Poaching Death 4% HWC Death 18%

Died 21% Successful Cases 53%

Taken to Orphanage 4%

SWT/KWS Amboseli Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations April – June 2023

April 2023

To see the full report for Amboseli Vet Unit for the month of April 2023 click here

May 2023

To see the full report for Amboseli Vet Unit for the month of May 2023 click here

June 2023

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SWT/KWS MT KENYA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OVERVIEW April – June 2023

21 Cases

8 Elephant Cases

6 Poaching Cases

During this quarter, the Mt. Kenya Mobile Wildlife Veterinary Unit attended to 21 reported wildlife cases which is a significant reduction from the previous quarter. Significant cases included treatment of an elephant for a spear

one and another for a bullet wound as well as for natural causes and relocation of 7 elephants due to human wildlife conflict. One elephant calf was found struggling to survive from natural causes and it was decided to relocate it to the Nairobi Nursery to recover as it coudn’t survive in the wild. The Unit continue to assist Ol Pejeta Conservancy with their insemination project and relocated 2 selected females to Bomas. .

21 Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Mt Kenya Vet Unit April - June 2023 12

10

8 Other Plains Game 6

Rhinos

Predators Elephant

4

2

0 Poaching

HWC

Natural Causes

Relocation

Outcomes of Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Meru Vet Unit April - June 2023

Prognosis Poor 22%

Successful Cases 63%

HWC Death 7%

Poaching Death 4%

Taken to Orphanage 4%

SWT/KWS Mt Kenya Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations April – June 2023

April 2023

To see the full report for Mt Kenya Vet Unit for the month of April 2023 click here

May 2023

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June 2023

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SWT/KWS RIFT VALLEY MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OVERVIEW April – June 2023

40 Cases

16 Poaching Cases

25 Plains Game Cases

The Lake Naivasha area and the Central Rift Conservation Area in general have received seasonal rain throughout most the quarter. The Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Unit performed clinical interventions and carried out routine security patrols in the Lake Naivasha area and Mt. Elgon National Park. The Unit attended to 40 cases, 16 of which were related to poaching and 7 due to human wildlife conflict. The most common cause of treatment continues to be snare injuries, as bushmeat poaching for zebra, buffalo, giraffe and other grazers is prevalent in this area. The Unit assisted in translocating a leopard that attacked two people, a buffalo that was posing a threat to communities, attempted to rescue a giraffe from a pit and treated 3 giraffes that were injured by people.

40 Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Rift Valley Vet Unit April - June 2023 18 16 14 12 Other 10

Buffalo Giraffe

8

Plains Game Predators

6 4 2 0 Poaching

HWC

Natural Causes

Postmortem

Collared

Outcomes of Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Rift Valley Vet Unit April - June 2023

Successful Cases 81%

Prognosis Poor 5%

Died 7%

Poaching Death 3% HWC Death 2%

Taken to Orphanage 2%

SWT/KWS Rift Valley Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations April - June 2023

April 2023

To see the full report for Rift Valley Vet Unit for the month of April 2023 click here

May 2023

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June 2023

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