DSWT Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit May 2014

Amboseli MVU May 2014

www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org

AMBOSELI MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT MONTHLY REPORT MAY 2014

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Amboseli MVU May 2014

www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org

Introduction th

The new Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit was launched on the 30 April 2014 at the KWS headquarters in Nairobi. The team comprises of KWS Field Veterinary Officer Dr Njoroge, two KWS rangers and a DSWT driver.

The team left for Amboseli National Park where their new operational base is located and embarked on a sensitization program throughout the vast Southern Conservation Area, which the unit will be covering.

The program notified all KWS personnel as well as conservation and tourism stakeholders operating within the area, that the new DSWT/KWS Amboseli Unit has been officially deployed and can be contacted to attend to any wildlife cases in need of veterinary intervention. A radio message was also circulated to all KWS Southern Conservation Area offices with detailed information.

This program was carried out hand in hand with immediate response clinical interventions including five cases and involved visits within the region including the following areas and institutions; •

Tourism Lodges within Amboseli National Park

•

Predator Compensation Base in Amboseli National Park

Kimana Sanctuary

•

Amboseli Baboon Research

•

Biglife Foundation

•

Kajiado region

•

Living with Lions

•

Namanga

•

Kuku Ranch

•

Lion Guard

•

Ngulia Rhino Headquartes

•

Kitirua Operation Base

•

Mukururo Rhino Headquarters

•

KWS Taveta Station

•

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Kaluku

•

Maktau Station

•

Tsavo Mobile Veterinary Unit

•

Njukini Post

•

Tourism Lodges National Park

•

Rombo Station

•

Loitokitok

•

Chyulu Hills National Park

•

Kiboko Post

•

Tsavo West National Park

•

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within

Tsavo

West

Amboseli MVU May 2014 1.

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Injured elephant at Serena Lodge junction, 14 May

Case History An elephant was reported to have been immobile though had been earlier treated. The veterinary team attended to the case and made a decision to dart the animal for closer observation.

Immobilisation The elephant was immobilized using 16 mgs Etorphine Hydrochloride in a 2cc dart topped up using water for injection. Darting from a vehicle was done using Dan-inject system. Full immobilization took place after 7 minutes and she fell on lateral recumbence. The trunk was maintained patent by the help of a piece of stick which was placed across at their’ entrances. The ears were used as blindfold.

Examination and Treatment On physical examination the elephant had a penetrating wound on the left forelimb. The wound had pus and dead tissue. Proximal to the wound there was a scar that had been previously treated and healed by granulation. The wound was probed for any foreign body and there was none.

It was thoroughly cleaned using water and Hydrogen Peroxide then lavaged using tincture of Iodine. The bull was injected with 100 ml oxytetracycline 20% and 50 ml Dexamethasone at different sites intramuscularly.

Topical antibiotic ointment and grey clay was then applied on the wound to facilitate healing. The operation lasted 10 minutes.

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Amboseli MVU May 2014

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Reversal of immobilization Diprenorphine Hydrochloride (48mgs) was given into the ear vein. It took 10 minutes for the elephant to be fully awake from the anaesthesia.

Prognosis Prognosis is good. One week later, the elephant could use the four limbs well without much difficulty.

Retreatment has been done again and great signs of improvement have been noted.

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Amboseli MVU May 2014 2.

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Treatment of elephant with a tongue wound at Iremito Gate- Amboseli, 19 May

Case History A male elephant was reported to have been spotted off feed and reluctant to move. It had also experienced loss of body condition. A decision was made to immobilize the elephant after arrival and observing the elephant.

Imobilisation The elephant was immobilized using 16 mgs Etorphine Hydrochloride in a 2cc dart. Darting from a vehicle was done using Dan-inject system. Full immobilization took place after 10 minutes and he fell on lateral recumbence.

Examination and Treatment On physical examination the elephant had a penetrating wound on the tongue likely to have occurred while feeding. There was also pus and dead tissue. The wound was probed for any foreign body and there was none.

It was thoroughly washed using clean water and Hydrogen Peroxide then lavaged using tincture of Iodine. The bull was injected with 100 ml oxytetracycline 20% and 50 ml Dexamethasone at different sites intramuscularly.

Topical antibiotic ointment was then applied on the wound to facilitate healing. The operation lasted 25 minutes.

Reversal of immobilization Diprenorphine Hydrochloride (48mgs) into the ear vein was used. It took 7minutes to be fully awake from the anaesthesia.

Prognosis Prognosis is good.

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Amboseli MVU May 2014 3.

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Post Mortem Report of an adult elephant at Kimana Sanctuary (Amboseli ecosystem), 16 May

Case History An elephant carcass was seen on the 15-04-2014 at around 6.00 pm by KWS and Kimana Sanctuary security personnel while on their normal daily routine patrol.

General post mortem findings i.

The elephant was on lateral recumbence position adjacent to a huge tree which had probably provided support and a shade prior to death. ii.

Large maggots were present and the carcass had decomposed. iii.

Both elephant tusks were present. iv.

The KWS security personnel removed the tusks with ease suggesting that the elephant had died 2-3 weeks prior to being sighted. v.

On physical examination, no physical injury was observed.

Procedure i.

The KWS security personnel removed the tusks and delivered them to Amboseli National park headquarters for safe custody. ii.

The tusks were weighed prior to storage and weighed 33 kg and 20kg.

Cause of death A) The period that the carcass was in the sanctuary and the tusks were intact.

B) No physical injury observed C) The age of the elephant.

D) The elephant could have died a natural death out of old age.

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Amboseli MVU May 2014

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4. Treatment of injured elephant at Ngulia, Tsavo West 20 May Case History An elephant was reported by the DSWT aerial unit to have been immobile despite it having been treated 10 days earlier by the DSWT Tsavo vet. The veterinary team attended to the case in Ngulia and made a decision to dart the animal for closer observation and further treatment to increase chances of survival.

Immobilisation The elephant was immobilized using 17 mgs Etorphine Hydrochloride in a 3cc dart topped up using water for injection. Foot darting Dan-inject system was deployed since the terrain could not allow easy manoeuvring of the vehicle. Full immobilization took place after 12 minutes and he fell on lateral recumbence.

Examination and Treatment On physical examination the elephant had a penetrating wound on the left forelimb. The wound had pus and dead tissue. The wound was probed for any foreign body and there was none. About 500ml of pus gushed out of the wound. The wound was about 20 cm deep and could have been as a result of a gunshot. The entire limb was also swollen and the skin around the wound was necrotic. It was thoroughly cleaned using water and Hydrogen Peroxide then lavaged using tincture of Iodine. The bull was injected with 200 ml oxytetracycline 20% and 100 ml Flunixine Meglumine at different sites intramuscularly. Topical antibiotic ointment and grey clay was then applied on the wound to facilitate healing. The operation lasted 30 minutes.

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Amboseli MVU May 2014

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Reversal of immobilization Diprenorphine Hydrochloride (48mgs) into the ear vein was used. It took 8 minutes to be fully awake from the anaesthesia.

Prognosis st Prognosis is guarded. UPDATE: sadly on the 31 May this elephant succumbed to his wounds having collapsed.

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Amboseli MVU May 2014 5.

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Post mortem of a giraffe at Osewan (Amboseli ecosystem), 26 May

Case History The giraffe was spotted dead by game scouts on the previous evening. Post mortem was done after about 18 hours.

Post Mortem findings The neck region, left fore and hind limbs had been severed by predators or humans after death of the giraffe.

The carcass was dehydrated and had a matted hind quarter. There were flank blood tints from the anus. On opening the carcass there was a lot of echmotic haemorrhage on the gut walls. The liver had a coked appearance and was swollen.

The entire G.I.T system had bloody fluid and very little faecal material. There was blood tinted ingesta in the abomasum and paintbrush haemorrhage in the rectum, colon and illume. There was haemorrhage and congested blood vessels in the serosa. The ilium and distal colon had flank blood.

Cause of death: Severe bacterial gastroenteritis, leading to hypovolemic shock due to excess fluid loss. Blood samples were collected to establish the type of infection and eliminate anthrax.

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