SWT/KWS Mt Kenya Veterinary Unit Report for August 2024

SWT/KWS MT KENYA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT

AUGUST 2024

August Report by Dr.

Poghon

During the month of August 2024, the Mt Kenya Wildlife Veterinary Unit attended to four wildlife cases that required veterinary intervention in the Southern Laikipia and Mt. Kenya region.

The wildlife veterinary cases attended to include translocation of lions from Lolomarik to Tsavo National Park, treatment of an elephant bull at Mukogodo Forest in Doldol, euthanasia and postmortem examination of a male elephant at Loisaba Conservancy and postmortem examination of an elephant bull at Mukutan 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 fulfil its mandate. 4 Cases in August 2024

Case Details

were fitted with collars for

The cause of death is torsion of the small intestines. Change of feed to lush green pasture due to the ongoing rains may have led to increased peristalsis in the intestines

SWT/KWS Mt Kenya Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations

August 2024

Case 1 – 1st August 2024

Lion

Human-Wildlife Conflict

The problem lions were reported to be preying on livestock in the Ranch over a long time and previous efforts to capture them were not successful. The lions (1 male and 4 female) were fitted with collars for monitoring but continued to predate on livestock.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

Five metallic cages were baited and set up in the evening to capture the lions. Two sub-adult lionesses were captured using the cages. One adult male and one sub-adult lioness were darted and captured. The adult lioness was captured the next day through trapping.

The adult lion and sub-adult lioness were darted using 300mg Ketamine in combination with 6mg Medetomidine delivered using a Dan-Inject® CO2 rifle, fired from a vehicle in close proximity to the animals. The immobilized animals were placed on a stretcher and transferred into cages which were then loaded into the translocation lorry.

Prognosis

Reversal of anaesthesia was done using 10mg Atipamezole for the sub-adult lioness and 17.5mg Atipamezole for the adult lion administered intramuscularly. All 5 lions were released successfully.

Lolomarik Ranch

Case

Elephant Natural Causes Mukogodo Forest, Laikipia

The elephant bull was reported to have swinging lameness of the left forelimb.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The elephant was darted with 18mg Etorphine hydrochloride in combination with 150mg Azaperone, delivered using a Dan-Inject® CO2 rifle, fired on foot near the animal. The dart was delivered into the right rump. Induction time was 8 minutes and the elephant went into left lateral recumbency. It was impossible to turn the elephant to right lateral recumbency due to bad terrain.

On examination, the elephant had a good body condition (score of 4 out of 5). The left forelimb was massively swollen, especially around the elbow joint. A blood-tinged serous exudate was aspirated from the swollen area. Two laceration wounds were present above the hock of the right forelimb. The wounds were scrubbed with dilute Hydrogen peroxide, rinsed and irrigated with Iodine then topical Oxytetracycline spray applied. Systemic cover was done using 15,000mg Oxytetracycline (I.M) and 10,000mg Phenylbutazone (I.M).

Prognosis

Reversal of the anaesthesia was achieved using 360mg Naltrexone intravenously and the elephant was up in 4 minutes. Prognosis is guarded.

Case 3 – 22nd August 2024

Elephant Natural Causes

Loisaba Conservancy

An elephant at Loisaba Conservancy was reported to be having swinging lameness on the left forelimb.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The elephant was darted from foot, into the right rump with 10 mg Etorphine hydrochloride Induction time was 4 minutes, and the elephant went into right lateral recumbency. A top up of 5mg Etorphine was administered intravenously.

On examination, the animal had a fair body condition (score of 3 out of 5). The left forelimb was swollen, especially at the elbow joint. Disuse atrophy was observed on the shoulder muscles of the left forelimb. A fist sized open wound that was oozing pus was present on the medial aspect of the left forelimb at the elbow joint and the lateral condyle of the humerus was infected and poking through the wound. The humerus was completely dislocated from the elbow joint medially and crepitus was present on moving the limb.

Prognosis

Prognosis was poor. A decision to perform euthanasia was made based on animal welfare concerns. Postmortem confirmed the elephant had a double dislocation on the left forelimb; dislocation of the shoulder joint and dislocation of the elbow joint.

Elephant

Post-mortem

Mukutan Conservancy

The animal submitted for necropsy was an adult male elephant. The postmortem interval was estimated to be approximately 48 hours.

Post-mortem examination

The body condition score was good (4/5). The carcass was lying in right lateral recumbency in a dam. No wounds were observed externally.

There was diffuse haemorrhage on the serosa of the stomach, small intestines, cecum and colon. The stomach was filled with ingesta, but the small intestines, cecum and proximal colon were empty.

Cause of death

The cause of death is torsion of the small intestines. Change of feed to lush green pasture due to the ongoing rains may have led to increased peristalsis in the intestines leading to torsion.

Torsion causes endotoxic shock and cardiac failure leading to sudden death.