SWT/KWS RIFT VALLEY MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OCTOBER 2023
Introduction
5 Cases in October
2 Poaching Cases
2 HWC Cases
October Report by Dr. Titus Kaitho The Lake Naivasha area and the Central Rift Conservation Area in general received sporadic rain over the reporting period. The Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to 5 cases in October 2023. These included 2 separate translocation cases involving the relocation of 11 waterbucks and 6 hippopotamuses to mitigate human – wildlife conflict; 2 separate de-snaring cases involving a snared common zebra and a snared buffalo; and 1 case involving a buffalo with lameness attributed to natural causes. Acknowledgement The Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary team greatly appreciates The Brady Hunter Foundation for funding the Unit through the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT). The team acknowledges Angela Sheldrick, CEO -SWT for her unwavering support and interest in the work undertaken by the Mobile Veterinary Unit and thanks the Wildlife Research & Training Institute (WRTI) for hosting the Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Unit. The team is also grateful for the assistance received from various stakeholders during the veterinary interventions undertaken over the reporting period. These stakeholders include Kenya Wildlife Service, Hells Gate National Park Senior Warden, KWS Problem Animal Control (PAC) teams, Senior Warden Naivasha Station, KWS Veterinary and Capture staff, the County Government of Nakuru, Naivasha Water and Sewerage Company, Kingfisher Farm, Mr. Maina of Pamcheg Farm in Marula Estates, and all the scouts who reported wildlife in distress and supported veterinary interventions. Thank you all.
Case Details Date 02-Oct 23 to 25-Oct 23 09-Oct 23 to 18-Oct 23
Species Waterbuck
Hippo
Area Found Kingfisher Farm. Naivasha Naivasha Sewage Plant
Reason for Intervention HWC
HWC
Relocation of 11 waterbucks from Kingfisher Farm to the riparian area of Lake Naivasha through Flamingo Farm. Capture and translocation of 6 hippopotamuses from the Naivasha Sewage Plant to Tundra Conservancy, Laikipia.
Outcome Task successful Task successful
25-Oct 23
Zebra
Hell’s Gate N.P.
Snared
Adult female common zebra with a long wire snare around the neck.
Successfully treated
25-Oct 23
Buffalo
W.R.T.I. Campus
Natural Causes
Lame adult male buffalo at the W.R.T.I Main Campus.
Successfully treated
29-Oct 23
Buffalo
Malewa River
Snared
Adult male buffalo with a winch wire snare on the right hind leg.
Successfully treated
SWT/KWS Rift Valley Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations October 2023
Case 1 – 02nd October 2023 – 25th October 2023 Waterbuck
Human – Wildlife Conflict
Kingfisher Farm
On various dates between 02/10/2023 – 25/10/2023, the Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Unit translocated 11 waterbucks (8 female and 3 male) from Kingfisher Farm to the riparian area of Lake Naivasha through Flamingo Farm. The waterbucks were reported to have attacked farm workers on various dates and were raiding crops in the farm. The exercise was duly authorized through the Head of Veterinary and Capture Services. Immobilisation and translocation Adult water bucks were darted with 6 mg Etorphine and 60 mg Azaperone. Juveniles were tranquilized with half the dose. A few animals were captured using capture nets camouflaged on a fence line. Immediately after net entanglement, the waterbuck was put under general anaesthesia to facilitate loading and transport. Sadly, 1 male waterbuck died due to anaesthesia complications and drowning after he got lost in a swampy area. The other 10 waterbucks were successfully captured and transported under general anaesthesia to the release site within the riparian area of Flamingo Farm 8 Km away. Anaesthesia was reversed with 125 mg Naltrexone given intravenously and intramuscularly to avoid re-narcotization. The mopping up exercise shall continue to translocate the remaining 1 waterbuck and warthogs as they settle down outside the corn plantation.
Case 2 – 09th October 2023 – 14th October 2023 Hippopotamus
Human – Wildlife Conflict
Naivasha Sewage Plant
The SWT - KWS Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Unit in conjunction with the KWS HQs Veterinary & Capture team and KWS Naivasha Station PAC team captured and safely translocated 6 hippopotamuses from Naivasha Water & Sewerage Plant filtration ponds to Tundra Conservancy in Laikipia county. The hippopotamuses had invaded the sewage ponds in 2020. They had attacked and seriously injured 3 people. Sadly, one of them suffered fatal injuries. An emergency translocation exercise was approved by KWS management. Capture and translocation The hippopotamuses were living in the ponds during the day, they were leaving the ponds at night to forage in the surrounding area. The County Government of Nakuru and the Naivasha Water and Sewerage Company was engaged to secure the area by excavating a Haha design trench / moat as a stop gap measure to prevent the exit and entry of people and animals (wild and domestic) into the facility. In addition, the Water and Sewerage Company placed adequate signage in bold red colour to warn the community about the presence of hippos in the sewerage ponds. Trespassing into the facility was prevented through armed day and night guard by Kenya Wildlife Service personnel. Capture nets were erected on metallic posts to secure the pond where hippopotamuses were living. A robust boma was also established at a strategic exit point. Once the sturdy boma and transport container were in place, habituation of the hippos by handfeeding continued.
Ring fencing the pond with capture nets and the Haha moat, along with continuous day and night vigil confined the hippos to the ponds and forced them to feed on the provided rations or feeds. These daily rations comprised lucerne, molasses, scrap cabbages, baby corn and maize stalks. Once the hippopotamuses were lured into the boma to feed at night, they were trapped in the boma and forced into the transport container. On 09th October 2023, 1 adult female hippopotamus and two (2) calves were captured. The three (3) hippopotamuses were translocated immediately to Tundra Conservancy. The animals arrived safely and were released in sound health. On 11th October 2023, the team captured the dominant hippopotamus bull that was preventing the other hippos from entering the holding boma. The bull was translocated alone since he was fractious, vicious, violent, and had destroyed the holding boma on several occasions. The male hippopotamus was safely translocated to Tundra Conservancy and released in good health. On 14th October 2023, the team captured the last two (2) hippopotamuses, an adult female and a sub adult female, that were transported to Tundra Conservancy and released safely in sound health. All the six (6) hippopotamuses were released in Tundra Conservancy close to a large dam full of clean water and abundant pasture. All the six hippopotamuses assembled in the dam as one school. The conservancy is well fenced with high tensile electric fence and overall security of the area is good. Recommendations On 17th October 2023 and 18th October 2023, the team pulled down the holding boma, loaded the construction equipment and capture tools for storage, and conducted a debrief of the capture operation. Thereafter, the Naivasha Water and Sewerage company took over the security of the facility from KWS Naivasha Station PAC team with the following clear instructions and recommendations: i. The main gate should be always manned (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). ii. The main gate should always be under lock and key. iii. No animal(s) should be allowed into the facility, domestic or wild, as they will quickly backfill the Haha trench/moat. iv. Naivasha Water and Sewerage Company should immediately fence off the entire facility to avoid any future recurrence of wildlife entering the sewerage plant.
Case 3 – 25th October 2023 Zebra
Snared
Hell’s Gate National Park
While on patrol, the Hells Gate National Paark security team sighted this adult female common zebra with a long wire snare around the neck. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The zebra was darted with 5 mg Etorphine and 80 mg Azaperone. Upon physical examination, it was observed that the long wire snare had inflicted bruises on the zebra’s legs. The snare was removed then 250 mg Flunixin meglumine and 9,000 mg Oxytetracycline was administered intramuscularly. Anaesthesia was reversed with 75 mg Naltrexone given intravenously and intramuscularly. Prognosis The zebra has a good prognosis.
Case 4 – 25th October 2023 Buffalo
Natural Causes
WRTI Main Campus
WRTI security staff reported a lame adult buffalo bull. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The buffalo bull was darted with 9 mg Etorphine and 80 mg Azaperone. Upon physical examination, no physical injuries were observed to warrant immobility and muscle wasting. According to the veterinarian’s assessment, the buffalo had stiff joints due to chronic arthritis brought about by advanced age. 24,000 mg Oxytetracycline, and 500 mg Flunixin Meglumine were administered intramuscularly. Additionally, 10 ml Ivermectin was administered subcutaneously. Anaesthesia was reversed with 200 mg Naltrexone given intravenously and intramuscularly. Prognosis The buffalo has a favourable to guarded prognosis.
Case 5 – 29th October 2023 Buffalo
Snared
Malewa River
Marula Estates Security staff reported a snared adult buffalo bull. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The buffalo was found along the banks of the Malewa River. The team had to wade across knee deep water to reach the animal. The bull was darted with 9 mg Etorphine and 80 mg Azaperone. It had a winch wire snare on its right hind leg which had caused an extensive wound exposing part of the bone. The snare was removed then the wound was cleaned with water and thoroughly rinsed with tincture of Iodine. A fly repellent was then administered. 18,000 mg Oxytetracycline, 300 mg Flunixin meglumine and 10 ml Ivermectin were administered accordingly before anaesthesia was reversed with 200 mg Naltrexone given intravenously and intramuscularly. Prognosis The buffalo has a favourable to guarded prognosis.