SWT/KWS MT. KENYA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OCTOBER 2023
Introduction
7 Cases in October
1 Rhino Case
2 Elephant Cases
October Report by Dr. Jeremiah Poghon The rains continued to pound the Laikipia and Mt. Kenya region in October which brought some relief to the ecosystem given the reduced cases of human – wildlife conflict and clinical cases reported. The Mt. Kenya Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to 7 Cases over the reporting period. The team captured 10 bushbucks in Ol-Pejeta Conservancy, Laikipia and translocated them to Tindress Conservancy, Nakuru; treated a male white rhino in Solio Ranch for lameness caused by a soft tissue injury incurred during a territorial fight; desnared a male common zebra at Posta Area in Laikipia County with a tight nylon rope snare on the hindlimb; performed an autopsy examination on a common zebra foal carcass found in the same area; de-snared an elephant cow in El-Karama Ranch; and performed an autopsy examination on a sub-adult male elephant carcass in Male Ranch, Laikipia County. 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.
Case Details Date
Species
03-Oct 23
Bushbuck
04-Oct 23
Rhino
04-Oct 23
Area Found
Reason for Intervention
Outcome
Ol Pejeta Relocation Conservancy
Capture and translocation of 10 bushbucks from Ol-Pejeta to Tindress.
Task successful
Solio Ranch
Natural Causes
Adult male white rhino with lameness on the hindlimb.
Successfully treated
Bongo
Mt. Kenya Conservancy
Natural Causes
Adult female mountain bongo with an abscess on the lower jaw.
Successfully treated
07-Oct 23
Zebra
Posta Area, Laikipia
Snared
Adult male zebra dragging a small tree stump tethered to its hind limb by a snare.
Successfully treated
07-Oct 23
Zebra
Posta Area, Laikipia
Postmortem
Autopsy examination on a fresh female zebra foal carcass in Posta Area.
Died. Heart attack
08-Oct 23
Elephant
El Karama Conservancy
Snared
Adult elephant cow with a tight wire snare on the front right limb.
Successfully treated
08-Oct 23
Elephant
Male Ranch
Postmortem
Autopsy examination on a 2-day old sub-adult male elephant carcass.
Died. Undetermined
SWT/KWS Mt. Kenya Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations October 2023
Case 1 – 03rd October 2023 Bushbuck
Relocation
Ol-Pejeta Conservancy
The Mt. Kenya Mobile Veterinary Unit teamed up with the Capture Unit from KWS headquarters to capture 10 bushbucks from Ol-Pejeta conservancy and translocate them to Tindress Conservancy in Nakuru. The capture and translocation had been authorized by KWS headquarters. Immobilisation, capture and translocation The bushbucks to be captured were identified then darting accessories and capture nets were prepared. Adult bushbucks were darted with 1 mg Etorphine hydrochloride and 10 mgs Azaperone hydrochloride. Subadults were immobilized with 0.5 mgs Etorphine and 5 mgs Azaperone while kids were captured using nets. After the animal went down, the eyes were blindfolded to prevent sunlight and external stimuli. Anaesthesia was reversed with Naltrexone then the animals were loaded onto a transport container. Once the container was full, the animals were transported overnight to Nakuru and released in Tindress Wildlife Conservancy in good health.
Case 2 – 04th October 2023 Rhino
Natural Causes
Solio Ranch
A white rhino bull in Solio Ranch was reported to be lame on the hindlimb. The Mt. Kenya Mobile Veterinary Unit responded immediately and found the huge bull alone with rangers keeping watch nearby. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The injured animal was pushed to a clearing and darted from a vehicle with 5 mg Etorphine hydrochloride and 80 mgs Azaperone. It went down on left lateral recumbency after 7 minutes. To reduce the risk of respiratory depression, 25 mgs Butorphanol tartrate and 10 mg Doxapram were administered immediately after recumbency. Oxygen was also supplied intranasally throughout the immobilization period to increase blood oxygen levels. The animal was positioned in sternal recumbency, and the neck elevated to enhance respiration. Oxygen levels were continuously monitored during treatment. The general body condition of the white rhinoceros was good, the lame limb was examined and found to have soft tissue injuries from a territorial fight with another bull. Long-acting antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs were administered intramuscularly before anaesthesia was reversed with 100 mgs naltrexone hydrochloride given intravenously. Prognosis The white rhino has a good prognosis.
Case 3 – 04th October 2023 Bongo
Natural Causes
Mt. Kenya Wildlife Conservancy
The monitoring team at Mt. Kenya Wildlife Conservancy reported that an endangered female mountain bongo had developed a lower jaw abscess. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The Mt. Kenya Mobile Veterinary Unit attend to the case and was assisted by a team from Mt Kenya Wildlife Conservancy. The bongo was approached on foot and darted with 5 mg Etorphine hydrochloride combined with 40 mg Azaperone tartrate. The dart landed on the musculature of the thigh. After 9 minutes, the animal went down on sternal recumbency. Oxygen was supplemented intra-nasally and the animal was blindfolded to prevent light stimulation. The wound was lanced and cleaned with Hydrogen peroxide mixed with water, disinfected with Iodine, and covered with green clay. Long-acting Gentamicin, Phenylbutazone, and multivitamins were administered intramuscularly while Ivermectin was administered subcutaneously. After treatment, anaesthesia was reversed with Naltrexone administered intravenously at 20 times the Etorphine dose. Prognosis The bongo has a good prognosis.
Case 4 – 07th October 2023 Zebra
Snared
Posta Area, Laikipia
Community rangers reported an adult male common zebra dragging along a small tree stump that was tethered to the animal’s hindlimb by a nylon rope snare. Since the report was received late that evening, the intervention was postponed to early the following morning. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The community rangers led the vet team to where the snared zebra was foraging. The animal was found within a herd and was darted from a vehicle with 7 mgs Etorphine hydrochloride and 60 mgs Azaperone hydrochloride. After the animal went down, the face was covered, and eyes blindfolded to prevent sunlight and external stimuli. The wire snare was cut loose and removed. The snare wound was then cleaned with Hydrogen peroxide, disinfected with Iodine, sprayed with Oxytetracycline, and covered with green clay. Longacting antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs were given parenterally before anaesthesia was successfully reversed. The Zebra stood and walked calmly toward the herd. Prognosis The zebra has a good prognosis.
Case 5 – 07th October 2023 Zebra
Post-mortem
Posta Area, Laikipia
Shortly after de-snaring the Zebra highlighted under Case 4, the team was alerted about a zebra foal carcass nearby that was still fresh. The team rushed to the area and performed a post-mortem examination. Post-mortem finding The carcass was opened, and it was noted that the animal had suffered an infarction of the heart that caused cardiac tamponade/heart attack. Cause of death The zebra died from cardiac tamponade/heart attack.
Unfortunately, there are no pictures for this case.
Case 6 – 08th October 2023 Elephant
Snared
El-Karama Wildlife Conservancy
Conservancy management reported sighting an elephant cow with a snare on the right forelimb. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The veterinary team found the snared elephant cow with the help of rangers in charge. The elephant cow had a young calf with her. The mother was darted from a vehicle with 16 mg Etorphine hydrochloride while the calf was darted with 2 mgs Etorphine. The mother went down first, the calf followed a few minutes later. During treatment, the respiration rate and temperature of the animals was monitored to ensure they were within the normal range. The elephant was in good body condition. There was a tight wire snare on the right front limb which was cutting into the flesh. The wire snare was cut loose with wire cutters and removed then the deep wound was cleaned with Hydrogen peroxide, necrotic tissue was debrided then the wound was disinfected with Iodine and covered with green clay. 40 mls Flunixin meglumine and 100 mls Betamox were administered intramuscularly. Anaesthesia was reversed with 320 mgs Naltrexone hydrochloride for the elephant cow and 40 mgs Naltrexone for the calf. They regained consciousness at about the same time, stood and walked away together slowly. Prognosis The elephant cow has a good prognosis since she was in good body condition.
Case 7 – 08th October 2023 Elephant
Post-mortem
Male Conservancy
KWS rangers manning Laikipia National Park reported finding an elephant carcass in an adjoining area. The carcass was estimated to be 2 days old and was from a sub-adult male elephant. The veterinary team visited the area to examine the carcass. Post-mortem findings The carcass had been largely devoured by scavengers and only some parts of the elephant’s anatomy were remaining. All the internal organs had been eaten away as well as most of the right flank musculature and skeletal tissues. Only the 2 front limbs, skull with tusks, right rib cage, skin and right leg were remaining. Cause of death The cause of death could not be determined due to advanced scavenger activity on the carcass.
Unfortunately, there are no pictures for this case.