SWT/KWS Mt Kenya Mobile Veterinary Report for August 2023

SWT/KWS MT. KENYA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT AUGUST 2023

Introduction

5 Cases in August

5 Poaching Cases

3 Elephant Cases

August Report by Dr. Jeremiah Poghon The rainfall in July was a welcome relief in the Mt. Kenya and Laikipia ecosystem, the subsequent abundance of forage and water for wildlife and livestock resulted in fewer human – wildlife conflict cases and a reduction in the clinical case load in August. The Mt. Kenya Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to 5 cases in total. These included 3 elephant cases involving a recumbent adult elephant bull with a spear wound on the right flank in Loldaiga Conservancy; an adult elephant bull with spear wounds on the neck, right forelimb, and flank in Ngorare Ranch, Laikipia; and an adult elephant cow with a wire snare on the right hind limb in Elkarama Ranch. Sadly, the elephant bull in Loldaiga Conservancy died before treatment could be administered. The autopsy carried out found that the elephant bull died from septicemia leading to peritonitis caused by the spear puncture. The team also desnared an adult female white rhino in Meru National Park and translocated 7 problematic zebras from Mt. Kenya Safari club golf course to the Mt. Kenya Wildlife Conservancy.

Acknowledgement The Mt. Kenya Mobile Wildlife Veterinary Unit thanks the Senior Assistant Director, Mountain Conservation Area and the Head of Veterinary Services, Kenya Wildlife Service for providing leadership and technical expertise. The veterinary team also appreciates The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) for providing the financial and logistical support that enables the Unit to deliver its mandate.

Case Details Date

Species

Area Found

08-Aug 23

Elephant

Loldaiga Conservancy

Spear

Recumbent adult elephant bull with a spear wound on the right flank.

Poaching Death

09-Aug 23

Rhino White

Meru N.P.

Snared

Adult female white rhino with a wire entangling the right hindlimb.

Successfully treated

10-Aug 23 to 11-Aug 23

Zebra

Mt. Kenya Conservancy

Relocation

Translocation of 7 zebras from Mt. Kenya Safari Club to Mt. Kenya Conservancy.

Task successful

14-Aug 23

Elephant

Ngorare, Laikipia

Spear

Adult elephant bull with spear wounds on the neck, right forelimb, and flank.

Prognosis Poor

14-Aug 23

Elephant

El Karama Ranch

Snared

Adult female elephant with a wire snare on the right hindlimb

Successfully Treated

Reason for Intervention

Outcome

SWT/KWS Mt. Kenya Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations August 2023

Case 1 – 08th August 2023 Elephant

Spear

Loldaiga Conservancy

On 02/08/2023, Loldaiga Conservancy rangers reported seeing an adult elephant bull with a spear wound on the right flank in the Loldaiga community area outside the conservancy. Unfortunately, the elephant moved away from the area before an intervention was mounted. The bull was later seen recumbent on 08/08/2023 in Loldaiga Conservancy several kilometres away from the community area.

Examination The elephant bull was found lying on right lateral recumbency. Heart auscultation confirmed that the elephant was dead. The animal appeared to have been in good body condition before death. A puncture wound was observed on the right dorsal part of the flank. There were ticks on the body surface, and the head and tusks were intact. A post-mortem examination was carried out to determine the cause of death.

Post-mortem findings The right flank region was exposed for post-mortem examination. A spear puncture was noted through the skin, muscles and peritoneum causing peritonitis. There was hypostatic congestion in body organs by virtue of gravity; generalized post-mortem emphysema due to bacterial fermentation; fibrinous effusions in the peritoneal cavity; gelatin formation; congestion of the kidneys; and generalized paint-brush haemorrhage in the external surface of intestines. The tusks were retrieved by Loldaiga Wildlife Conservancy management.

Cause of death Septicaemia leading to peritonitis caused by spear puncture.

Case 2 – 09th August 2023 Rhino

Snared

Meru National Park

On 09/08/2023, rangers in Meru National Park spotted an adult female white rhino moving with difficulty due to a snare on its right hindlimb. Since the Meru Mobile Veterinary Unit was on leave, the Mt. Kenya Mobile Veterinary Unit responded.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The snared rhino was in an area with thick bush. To facilitate darting, aerial assistance was requested from the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy helicopter. The candidate was isolated and darted from a helicopter with 5 mg Etorphine hydrochloride and 80 mgs Azaperone. The rhino went down on left lateral recumbency 7 minutes post-darting. To enhance respiration 10 mg Butorphanol tartrate and 10 mg Doxapram were administered intravenously immediately after recumbency. Oxygen was administered intranasally throughout the immobilization period to increase blood oxygen levels. The rhino was also placed in sternal recumbency to elevate the neck and enhance respiration.

The animal was in generally good body condition. The wire entangling the right hindlimb had caused minor wounds on the right hindlimb and right forelimb. The snare was removed then the wounds were sprayed with Oxytetracycline wound spray. 10 ml of blood was drawn from the jugular vein for blood chemistry analysis and haematology. Anaesthesia was then reversed with 100 mg Naltrexone hydrochloride administered intravenously. The animal woke up 3 minutes later and walked away.

Prognosis The rhino has a good prognosis.

Case 3 – 10th August 2023 to 11th August 2023 Zebra

Relocation

Mt. Kenya Wildlife Conservancy

The Mt. Kenya Mobile Veterinary Unit in conjunction with veterinarians in charge of Mt. Kenya Wildlife Conservancy translocated 7 zebras from the Mt. Kenya Safari Club golf course to the Conservancy.

Immobilisation and translocation Adults were darted with 7 mgs Etorphine hydrochloride and 60 mgs Azaperone hydrochloride while subadults and foals were darted with 4 mgs Etorphine hydrochloride and 40 mgs Azaperone hydrochloride. After the animal went down, it was blindfolded, and its ears plugged to reduce visual and auditory stimulation since vision and hearing are not affected by opioid agonists. To reduce the risk of respiratory depression, 10 mg Butorphanol tartrate was administered intravenously through ear vein immediately after recumbency.

Oxygen was also administered intranasally throughout the immobilization and translocation period to increase blood oxygen levels. The animals were also placed in sternal recumbency to enhance respiration.

The zebras were loaded onto a padded vehicle and translocated while under anaesthesia to Mt. Kenya Wildlife Conservancy. At the release site, they were carefully unloaded then anaesthesia was reversed with Naltrexone hydrochloride administered intravenously through the jugular vein. Full anaesthesia reversal took between 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Case 4 – 14th August 2023 Elephant

Spear

Ngorare Ranch, Laikipia

KWS Rumuruti Station reported a lame adult elephant bull with a wound on the hip region.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The elephant was darted from a vehicle and immobilized with 20 mg Etorphine hydrochloride. The drugs took effect 7 minutes later. The animal’s body was then doused with cold water to cool the animal down. The general body condition of the elephant was good. There were penetrating spear wounds on the neck, right forelimb, and the flank. 400 ml Amoxicillin and 40 ml Dexamethasone were administered intramuscularly. 40 ml Catasol was also administered. Necrotic tissues in the infected wounds were debrided and pus drained.

The wounds were then cleaned with water and Hydrogen peroxide and disinfected with Iodine. A topical antibiotic cream, antibiotic wound pessaries, and green clay were applied on the wounds to facilitate healing and prevent further infections. Topical Oxytetracycline spray was applied to the wounds on the neck and forelimb. Anaesthesia was reversed with Naltrexone hydrochloride. The elephant stood a few minutes later and walked away.

Prognosis The elephant bull has a guarded prognosis. Rangers were requested to monitor the elephant and report his progress to the conservancy management.

Case 5 – 14th August 2023 Elephant

Snared

El Karama Conservancy

El Karama Conservancy management reported an adult female elephant with a wire snare on the right hindlimb.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The snared elephant was darted from a vehicle with 16 mg Etorphine hydrochloride. The animal went down after 6 minutes on right lateral recumbency. During the procedure, the elephant’s respiration rate was monitored to ensure it was within the normal range. The elephant’s temperature was also taken throughout the intervention. The animal was in good body condition. There was a wire snare on the elephant’s right hindlimb. Fortunately, the snare had not inflicted any wound on the limb. The snare was cut loose with wire cutters then 40 ml Flunixin meglumine was administered intramuscularly. Anaesthesia was reversed with Naltrexone hydrochloride administered intravenously.

Prognosis The elephant has a good prognosis.