MT KENYA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT REPORT MAY 2019

SWT/KWS MT KENYA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT May 2019

Introduction

8 Cases in May

2 Rhino Cases

63% Success

May Report by Dr. Domnic Mijele

The Mt Kenya Wildlife Veterinary unit adequately responded to several wildlife emergency cases that required urgent veterinary intervention in the whole of Laikipia ecosystem and Mt. Kenya region during the month of May 2019. Some of the veterinary activities included trimming of overgrown hooves of an eland at Mt. Kenya game ranch, rescue of an orphaned elephant calf from Suyian Conservancy, treatment of a wounded male black rhino in Borana wildlife conservancy, treatment of a wounded lioness at Loisaba wildlife conservancy, lancing of an abscess from a female bongo at Mt. Kenya game ranch among other cases as highlighted in the report below; Acknowledgement Many thanks and appreciation to the support from our partner Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT), KWS and other partners for supporting wildlife veterinary services in Laikipia and Mt. Kenya regions and other parts of the country. This has made it possible for the veterinary teams to respond and save many wildlife species that require urgent veterinary attention almost on a daily basis.

Case Details Date

Species

Area Found

Reason for Intervention

Outcome

09-May-19

Eland

Mount Kenya Game Ranch

Technical Cases

An adult female semi-captive eland a had overgrown hind leg hooves

Successfully Treated

11-May-19

Elephant

Suyian, Laikipia

Rescue

Found alone without the mother and there were no other elephants nearby

Taken to Orphanage

15-May-19

Lion

Loisaba, Laikipia

Natural Causes

Several bite wound injuries while it was attacked by another pride of lions

Successfully Treated

16-May-19

Bongo

Mount Kenya Game Ranch

Technical Cases

A bongo had a large abscess on the right side of the cheek near the mandibles

Successfully Treated

21-May-19

Zebra

Borana, Laikipia

Natural Causes

Sustained a fracture of the cervical vertebral bone during a territorial fight

Successfully Treated

23-May-19

Rhino Black

Ol Jogi, Laikipia

Natural Causes

Hepatic and cardiovascular malfunctions that lead to cardiac insufficiency

Prognosis Poor

24-May-19

Elephant

Naibunga Conservancy

Bullet Wound

The cause of the injury was not known but suspected to be due to gun shot

Poaching Death

27-May-19

Rhino Black

Borana, Laikipia

Natural Causes

Wounds caused by a territorial fight

Successfully Treated

SWT/KWS Mt Kenya Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations May 2019

Case 1 – 9th May 2019 Eland

Technical Case – Hoof Trimming

Mt Kenya Game Ranch

This was a case of an adult female semi-captive eland at Mt. Kenya game ranch which had overgrown hindleg hooves that made it difficult for the animal to move and she could be seen walking with a poor gait. The animal required chemical restraint and trimming of the overgrown hooves so it could resume its normal gait.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The eland was darted using 7mgs of Etorphine Hcl combined with 50mgs of Azaperone within the paddock.

It became immobilized and recumbent after about 5 minutes.

On physical examination, the hooves had excessively overgrown and curved upwards affecting the gait of the animal. Both the hooves were trimmed using a small hacksaw and hoof trimmer then sprayed with Oxytetracycline antibiotic spray. The animal was then treated with painkillers and multivitamins, administered intramuscularly to revitalize the body system.

Prognosis After the operation, the anaesthesia was revived using 24mg of Diprenorphine combined with 50mgs of Naltrexone administered through the jugular vein, the eland rose up after 2 minutes feeling relieved.

Case 2 – 11th May 2019 Elephant

Rescue

Suyian Wildlife Conservancy

This was a case of an orphaned juvenile elephant calf sighted in Suyian Wildlife Conservancy, it was found alone without the mother and there were no other elephants nearby. It was still energetic, but the abdomen was already sagging, which is a sign of malnutrition. It required urgent rescue to save it from predation and starvation.

Capture and Rescue The calf was sedated using 40mgs of Azaperone (Stressnil®) then restrained using ropes and by hand so it could quickly be loaded onto a landcruiser and driven to the Sosian airstrip where it was collected by a caravan rescue plane and flown to Sheldrick Wildlife Trust the same day.

The calf was put on I.V fluids and Dextrose through the superficial era-veins to help boost the energy levels until it reached the orphanage.

Any abrasive wounds on the skin were treated using Opticlox® ointment applied topically and Oxytetracycline spray.

Case 3 – 15th May 2019 Lion

Natural Causes

Loisaba Wildlife Conservancy

This was a case of an adult lioness that sustained several bite wounds when it was attacked by another pride of lions. It had a very deep wound on the abdomen, on the shoulder region and other parts of the body.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The lioness was found alone lying under shrubs with severe body injuries that required urgent treatment.

The wounds were still fresh and needed to be sutured to avoid wound infection. The lioness was anaesthetized using a combination of 350mgs of Ketamine and 6mgs of Medetomidine from a vehicle with a dan-inject dart gun. The anaesthesia took effect after about 7 minutes and the lioness became recumbent.

Physical examination revealed deep fresh wounds particularly to the right flank and the shoulder region. The wounds were cleaned using surgical spirit then shaved and sutured using chromic cat-gut absorbable sutures.

The sutured wounds were cleaned with lugol’s iodine, Opticlox ointment and Oxytetracycline spray. The lioness was also given Procaine penicillin, multivitamins and Dexamethasone injection intramuscularly.

Prognosis The prognosis was quite good as the injuries only affected soft tissues which will respond faster to medication. So far it has made good progress and recovering well.

Case 4 – 16th May 2019 Bongo

Natural Causes

Mount Kenya Game Ranch

An adult female mountain bongo had a large abscess on the right side of the cheek near the mandibles, the abscess was large and required lancing and treatment as the animal was reported to be in a lot of pain.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The bongo was isolated in one of the enclosures where it was darted for treatment. The abscess area was shaved clean using a scalpel blade and disinfected using 70% ethanol and surgical spirit. The abscess was then cut at the lowest point so the whitish exudates and pus could be pressed out of the swelling. The exudates were pressed out completely and the wound cleaned properly using a forceps and gauze swabs, then disinfected with hydrogen peroxide and Tincture of iodine. The wound was further treated with Opticlox ointment and Oxytetracycline spray and left open so the pus could continue to drain. The animal was then given Betamox, Dexamethasone and a Multivitamin injection.

Blood samples were collected for further laboratory diagnosis to ascertain the cause of the abscesses in these animals. The cause is not yet ascertained but it is most likely due to environmental contamination in the small and muddy enclosures.

Prognosis Prognosis was quite good after lancing of the abscess and wound treatment, it has since made good recovery.

Case 5 – 21st May 2019 Zebra

Natural Causes

Borana Wildlife Conservancy

An adult male common zebra was involved in a territorial fight with another zebra and sustained a fracture of the cervical vertebral bone. This caused paralysis of the neck and the animal was unable to walk, feed or take water. It was in intense pain and bleeding from the mouth due to internal injuries.

Immobilisation and examination The injured common zebra was unable to move and remained in one location for quite some time. It was immobilized by hand injection using 5mgs of Etorphine Hcl combined with 80mgs of Azaperone.

Prognosis The fractured cervical vertebra was confirmed by flexing the neck and palpating the bones of the neck, a decision was made to euthanize the zebra to relieve it from pain and suffering.

Case 6 – 23rd May 2019 Black Rhino

Natural Causes

Ol Jogi Wildlife Conservancy

This is a two-and-half year old black rhino that was rescued as an orphan two years ago and is being kept inside a boma enclosure within Ol Jogi conservancy with occasional release to the field. It has progressively lost body condition, shown stunted growth and had a distended abdomen due to hepatic and cardiovascular malfunctions that lead to cardiac insufficiency and digestion disorders. It has developed decubital wounds on bonny prominences such as the shoulder, knees and ankle joints.

Examination and treatment The body condition is still not good, body temperature was normal showing that it had no infection. Heartrate and pulse were normal but with several decubital wounds.

The wounds were treated using Oxytetracycline spray and Opticlox ointments which will be repeated for some time until recovery. Dietary supplementation with lucerne and sugarcane was still recommended.

Prognosis Prognosis is guarded due to organ failures that may take time to heal.

Case 7 – 24th May 2019 Elephant

Bullet Wound

Naibunga Wildlife Conservancy

This was a case of an adult female elephant which was found alone unable to walk in Koija area of Naibunga Conservancy, it was limping and unable to put weight on the left front leg. It was not feeding and was suspected to have a fracture on the affected leg. The cause of the injury was not known but suspected to be due to gun shot. It was unable to move and only remained in one location daily.

Immobilisation and examination It was darted from a vehicle using 18mgs of Etorphine Hcl in a 3ml Dan-inject dart. It was immobilized after about 6 minutes and went down on lateral recumbency. The left front leg had a small deep fresh wound on the lateral side of the elbow joint suspected to be the gunshot wound that caused the fracture. The humerus bone had completely broken on the distal end and was pinching on the triceps muscles every time the elephant attempted to move causing a lot of pain and deterring the elephant movement.

Prognosis The fracture could not recover due to the heavy weight of the elephant, it was in intense pain and unable to walk or access water or browse. The elephant was later euthanized, tusks recovered and post-mortem results revealed a complete fracture of humerous bone

Case 8– 27th May 2019 Black Rhino

Natural Causes

Borana Wildlife Conservancy

This was a case of an adult male black rhino that had several lacerative wounds on the eyelids, forehead and shoulder regions caused by a territorial fight with another young male. The right eyelids were heavily swollen and completely covered the eyeball making it semi blind. It required very urgent veterinary intervention to save the animal from pain and loss of vision.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The rhino was in a very bad terrain (hilly, stony and bushy) so a helicopter was used to herd it into an open area for darting and treatment. It was then darted using 4.5mgs of Etorphine Hcl combined with 50mgs of Azaperone tartrate. To improve the plane of anaesthesia and respiration, 20 mgs of Butorphanol was administered through the ear vein soon after the rhino was anaesthetised, eyes and ears covered.

On examination, the rhino had lacerative wounds on the eyelids, forehead and shoulder regions. The wounds were cleaned and cauterized with dilute Hydrogen peroxide then Tincture of iodine, followed by Oxytetracycline spray. The eyeball was examined and found to be intact. The eyelid was treated with Betamox and Dexamethasone injection (intraconjuctival) injection. Flunixin meglumine was administered intramuscularly to enhance wound healing process, reduce the inflammation and minimize the pain.

Prognosis Prognosis was quite good after treatment so far its responding well to medication.