SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Veterinary Report for October 2023

SWT/KWS MARA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OCTOBER 2023

Introduction

8 Cases in October

3 Lion Cases

2 Elephant Cases

October Report by Dr. Michael Njoroge The Mara Conservation Area is blossoming as the rainy season continues. Pasture is abundant and animals are in good health. However, human - wildlife conflict has persisted as reflected by spearing incidents. The Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to 8 cases in October. In Maasai Mara National Reserve, the team attended to a lioness with a spear wound; examined 3 lions with hunting injuries; and treated a lion with a porcupine quill in its lower jaw. The team also attended to a Masai giraffe with birthing complications.

Unfortunately, the foetus was premature and did not survive. However, the giraffe has a good prognosis.

Additionally, the team attended to a young elephant bull with an arrow wound in Naibosho Conservancy; and a juvenile elephant bull in Mt. Elgon bull who’s left front limb was tragically severed by a snare. Sadly, the elephant had a poor prognosis and was put to rest. Lastly, the team attended to 2 Masai giraffes in Oloisukut Conservancy – one giraffe had an arrow wound while the other had an abscess.

Acknowledgement The Mara Mobile Veterinary team greatly appreciates Elizabeth Scarlett for funding the Unit through the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. The team also thanks Kenya Wildlife Service for providing technical support and all the conservation partners who contributed to the success of veterinary interventions through timely reporting of veterinary cases and monitoring of treated animals.

Case Details Date

Species

Area Found

Reason for Intervention

Outcome

10-Oct 23

Lion

Maasai Mara N.R.

HWC

Adult lioness with a deep spear wound on the lumbar muscles.

Successfully treated

11-Oct 23

Giraffe

Oloisukut Conservancy

Arrow

Adult female Masai giraffe with an arrowhead lodged in the neck.

Successfully treated

14-Oct 23

Giraffe

Oloisukut Conservancy

Natural Causes

Sub-adult male Masai giraffe with a swollen forelimb.

Successfully treated.

17-Oct 23

Elephant

Mt. Elgon

Snare

6–7-year-old elephant bull with a traumatic snare injury on the right forelimb.

Poaching Death

18-Oct 23

Elephant

Naibosho Conservancy

Arrow

Sub-adult elephant bull with an arrowhead lodged in the pelvic region.

Successfully treated

22-Oct 23

Lion

Maasai Mara N.R.

Natural Causes

Examination of a 6-month-old female cub and 10-year-old lioness named Yaya.

Monitoring advised

22-Oct 23

Lion

Maasai Mara N.R.

Natural Causes

Adult male lion with a porcupine quill lodged in its lower jaw.

Successfully treated

24-Oct 23

Giraffe

Maasai Mara N.R.

Natural Causes

Adult female Masai giraffe with complications during parturition.

Successfully treated

SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations October 2023

Case 1 – 10th October 2023 Lion

HWC - Spear

Maasai Mara National Reserve

In the evening hours on 09th October 2023, a county ranger reported sighting an injured adult lioness at the Musiara airstrip. Since darkness was almost falling and the area the lion was last seen was a long distance away from the vet station, treatment was postponed to the following morning.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment At the crack of dawn, the vet team departed for the airstrip. After a thorough search of the pride’s territory, the injured lioness was found under a tree nursing 3 cubs with the pride resting around her. The lioness was darted from a vehicle with 300 mgs Ketamine and 4 mgs Medetomidine. She was at ease with the cubs beside her and made no attempt to flee when the dart landed on her pelvic muscles. She was completely sedated in sternal recumbency 10 minutes later. She was then blindfolded and positioning in left lateral recumbency.

The dart was retrieved, and the dart wound sprayed with Tetracycline aerosol spray to repel flies.

The lioness had a deep expansive spear wound on the left side of the lumbar muscles. The longitudinal wound edges were shaved then the wound was cleaned with water, disinfected with Iodine, and refreshed to the point of bleeding. Muscle were suture using chromic catgut with a simple continuous pattern followed by a subcuticular suture and finally the skin was sutured with a simple interrupted suture pattern. 15,000 mg Amoxicillin was infiltrated into the sutured wound before the wound was sprayed with Tetracycline wound spray. Systemically, 15,000 mgs Amoxicillin and 30 mgs Dexamethasone were administered intramuscularly.

40 mg Ivermectin was administered subcutaneously to control internal and external parasites. Anaesthesia was reversed 1 hour post immobilization by injecting 20 mgs Atipamezole intramuscularly. She started showing signs of palpebral reflex and ear twitching after half an hour. She got into sternal recumbency 45 minutes post-revival and walked away 1 hour post revival. She was left in safety of the pride.

Prognosis The lioness has a good prognosis for recovery.

Case 2 – 11th October 2023 Giraffe

Spear

Oloisukut Conservancy

While on patrol, Oloisukut Conservancy rangers spotted an adult female Masai giraffe with an arrow lodged in the right side of the neck.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The injured giraffe was found browsing with a giraffe bull. A vehicle was used to herd the injured giraffe to a more suitable area for darting. Immobilization was achieved with 16 mgs Etorphine and 25 mgs Azaperone.

The drugs took full effect after 7 minutes with the giraffe still standing. The animal was skilfully roped down, blindfolded and anaesthesia immediately reversed with 170 mg Naltrexone administered intravenously and intramuscularly. The giraffe was physically restrained by pinning the head and neck to the ground and Butorphanol administered to enhance respiration. The arrowhead was carefully pulled out. Reddish exudates oozed from the penetrating wound indicative of infection. The wound was then flushed with Hydrogen peroxide, disinfected with Iodine, and sprayed with Tetracycline wound spray. Systemically, 30,000 mgs Tetracycline and 40 mgs Dexamethasone were administered. Thereafter, the animal was released. The giraffe was on sternal recumbency after 2 minutes, it energetically stood and walked towards the thick bush nearby.

Prognosis The giraffe has a good prognosis.

Case 3 – 14th October 2023 Giraffe

Natural Causes

Oloisukut Conservancy

Oloisukut Conservancy rangers sighted a young male Masai giraffe with a swollen forelimb.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The giraffe was darted from a vehicle with a combination of 15 mgs Etorphine and 25 mgs Azaperone. When the drugs took full effect 10 minutes later, the animal was roped down smoothly in left lateral recumbency.

It was blindfolded, manually restrained and anaesthesia immediately reversed with 170 mgs Naltrexone administered intramuscularly and intravenously. Butorphanol was also administered to enhance respiration.

The swelling at the level of the fetlock joint was aspirated to investigate its nature. It was found to be an abscess and incised to drain the pus before being disinfected with Hydrogen peroxide and povidone Iodine.

Antibiotic pessaries were inserted into the wound then it was sprayed with Tetracycline wound spray. 15,000 mgs Tetracycline and 40 mgs Dexamethasone were administered intramuscularly. After treatment the giraffe was released, it stood energetically and ran into the bush.

Prognosis The giraffe bull has a good prognosis.

Case 4 – 17th October 2023 Elephant

Snared

Mt. Elgon

Rangers on patrol spotted a juvenile elephant bull with a traumatic injury on the left forelimb. The animal was found alone and was reluctant to move. Given the significant distance to the elephant’s location, the veterinary team was ferried to the site by helicopter to attend to injured animal within the shortest time possible.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The 6–7-year-old elephant bull was darted with 10 mg Etorphine and was fully immobilized after 10 minutes.

Upon physical examination, it was observed that a snare had severed the elephant’s front right limb proximal to the fetlock joint. The injury was severe exposing about 45 cm of bone tissue. The limb was also infected, and pus and magots were observed.

Prognosis Sadly, the elephant had a poor prognosis for recovery. Euthanasia was recommended to alleviate further pain and suffering. KWS Mt. Elgon personnel recovered the tusks for safe custody.

Case 5 – 18th October 2023 Elephant

Arrow

Naibosho Conservancy

While on patrol, Mara Elephant Project rangers sighted a sub-adult elephant bull with an arrow wound in the pelvic region.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The elephant was found in a thick forested area grazing alone, whitish exudates were observed oozing from the pelvic region. With assistance from a helicopter, the elephant was driven to a more suitable area for darting and immobilized with 10 mgs Etorphine. The elephant assumed lateral recumbency when the drug took full effect 6 minutes post-darting. The left ear was used to shield the left eye from direct sunlight and dust. The arrowhead in the elephant’s pelvic region was then carefully pulled out. Thereafter, the penetrating wound was cleaned with water, disinfected with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine, infused with antibiotic pessaries, and packed with green clay mixed with Negasunt. Tetracycline wound spray was then applied topically to repel flies. 16,000 mgs Tetracycline and 2,500 mgs Flunixin meglumine were administered systemically before anaesthesia was reversed with 200 mg Naltrexone administered intravenously and intramuscularly. The elephant was assisted to stand and was on all fours in 5 minutes.

Prognosis The young bull has a good prognosis and will be monitored by Mara Elephant Project personnel.

Case 6 – 22nd October 2023 Lion

Natural Causes

Maasai Mara National Reserve

The Maasai Mara National Reserve security team reported that a young lion cub and an adult lioness named Yaya were injured. The cub was reported to have traumatic wounds at the level of the scapula while Yaya was reported to have a swollen forelimb.

Examination The cub was found lying in right lateral recumbency, and it had a bright demeanour. Closer observation revealed that the cub’s wounds has already healed. No other significant injuries were seen and therefore no immobilization was necessary. Yaya was spotted a few metres away from the pride. She appeared to be in good health and no significant injuries were observed.

At a nearby junction, the team encountered a limping adult lioness with 2 cubs. The lioness’s injuries were suspected to have been incurred the previous night while hunting a hippo. No external injuries were observed. The veterinary team advised the rangers to continue monitoring the pride and report any abnormalities observed.

Prognosis The lions have a good prognosis and are expected to recover fully within a short period of time. The security team will continue to monitor the pride and inform the veterinary unit in the event further intervention is required.

Case 7 – 22nd October 2023 Lion

Natural Causes

Maasai Mara National Reserve

Tourists reported seeing an adult male lion with a porcupine quill lodged in its lower jaw.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The injured lion was found lying under a tree beside another big male lion. It was darted from a vehicle with 300 mgs Ketamine and 4 mgs Medetomidine. Immobilization was achieved in right lateral recumbency after 5 minutes. The drugs were allowed to take effect for another 15 minutes before the other male was driven away. He took refuge 50 meters away in a small thicket where he rested until treatment was concluded. The dart was retrieved, and the dart wound infiltrated with Cloxacillin antibacterial ointment. The lion’s eyes were also covered with ointment to prevent drying, dust and injury. The porcupine quill was pulled out, and the resulting wound was disinfected with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine. 30 mgs Dexamethasone and 3,750 mgs Amoxicillin were administered intramuscularly while 50 mgs Ivermectin was injected subcutaneously.

Anaesthesia was reversed 1-hour post-immobilization with 15 mgs Atipamezole. Ear twitching and palpebral reflexes were observed 15 minutes post reversal. He assumed dog sitting posture 15 minutes later. The brothers were re-united post-treatment and left together.

Prognosis The lion has a good prognosis.

Case 8 – 24th October 2023 Giraffe

Natural Causes

Maasai Mara National Reserve

A tour driver reported seeing a female Masai giraffe near the Kenya – Tanzania border with complications during parturition.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The giraffe was found in open ground. A foetus’s 4 limbs could be seen protruding from the vulva indicating dystocia. The giraffe was darted with 13 mgs Etorphine and 30 mgs Azaperone and was roped down 7 minutes later when the drugs took effect. The animal was blindfolded, manually restrained and anaesthesia immediately reversed with 36 mgs Diprenorphine injected into jugular vein. All the foetus’s limbs were protruding from the vulva indicating transverse vertical presentation. It was also observed that the foetus was premature as indicated by the lack of fur. The foetus was successfully conferred in normal presentation and traction was employed to retrieve the foetus. The foetus was premature and was delivered stillborn.

After the giraffe was released, it woke up energetically and ran away before turning back to stare at the foetus.

Prognosis The giraffe has a good prognosis.