SWT/KWS Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Report for May 2021

SWT/KWS AMBOSELI MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT MAY 2021

CV

Introduction

6 Cases in May

2 Predator Cases

2 Elephant Cases

May Report by Dr. Kariuki Edward SCA-Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit (SCA-AMVU) attended to six veterinary cases of different animal species during May 2021.

Three animals were examined for cause of death by conducting post-mortems, including a giraffe and wildebeest for natural causes and a lion for poisoning due to Human-wildlife conflict. An elephant had to be euthanised after it suffered a broken limb and its calf had to be rescued. A wild dog was treated for a snare wound but sadly didn’t recover.

Acknowledgement We thank Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) for material support and Mobile Unit funding. Staff and Rangers at Amboseli National Parks, and Olgulului Group Ranch are acknowledged for their support and company during the veterinary interventions. All people who supported the monitoring of distressed animals in areas of interest are highly appreciated.

Case Details Date

Species

Area Found

4-May-21

Elephant

Chyulu Hills

Natural Causes

The post-mortem revealed a complete tibia fracture of the right hind limb.

Died

4-May-21

Elephant

Chyulu Hills

Rescue

Mother euthanised due to a fracture

Taken to Orphanage

8-May-21

Giraffe

Amboseli Environs

Postmortem

The giraffe was found dead, however, the giraffe activities before death could not be established

Died

16-May-21

Lion

Amboseli Environs

Human Wildlife Conflict

It was bloated and decomposed and displayed no external injuries on the body

HWC Death

24-May-21

Wildebeest

Kimana Sanctuary

Postmortem

A wildebeest with a spinal injury resulting from a suspected territorial fight was examined

Died

28-May-21

Wild Dog

Tsavo East NP

Snared

The wild dog had a wire on the neck

Poaching Death

Reason for Intervention

Outcome

SWT/KWS Amboseli Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations May 2021

Case 1 & 2 – 4th May 2021 Elephant

Natural Causes/Rescue

Chyulu Hills

A lame and immobile elephant was reported to AMVU by the KWS Loitoktok office. Community Scouts from Big Life Foundation and KWS assisted AMVU in accessing the elephant cow for examination. The elephant had a severe right hind limb fracture that lead to pain and immobility. The cow had to assume a sitting position every time she made a stride or moved. She was in the same position for two days prior to the veterinary visit. The elephant was a female aged about 35-50 years and had a calf.

Immobilisation, Examination and Management The elephant was darted from a helicopter using 20 mg Etorphine hydrochloride.

The cow had a fracture leading to a grave prognosis. The calf was rescued and taken to the Nairobi stockade for further care. After the calf was rescued and flown to Nairobi, the elephant mother was euthanised on welfare grounds to prevent further suffering.

Post-mortem Findings The necropsy revealed a complete tibia fracture of the right hind limb. However, the cause of the fracture was not established but could have resulted from a fall.

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Case 3 – 8th May 2021 Giraffe

Post-mortem

Amboseli Environs

The management of BigLife Foundation reported a giraffe suspected to have died from Anthrax on 8th May 2021. Biglife community scouts assisted the AMVU in accessing and disposal of the giraffe carcass.

Post-mortem Findings The giraffe was found dead in the right lateral recumbence. However, the giraffe activities before death could not be established.

No external injuries were established from the carcass. Early autolytic process and bacterial activity of the soft tissues were in progress. Fluid vomitus was established on the ground. The giraffe had a kinked neck, but this was likely caused during the fall after death. Regurgitation expressed by vomitus could have occurred in process of death. Red-brown matting observed on the anus and surrounding areas is due to bloody diarrhoea. The carcass was aged one day old and had no clear pathological signs to define particular diseases.

Cause of Death Non-specific bloody diarrheal disease.

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Case 4 – 16th May 2021 Lion

Human-Wildlife Conflict

Amboseli Environs

The Amboseli Mobile Vet Unit received a report of a dead lioness at Imarba from the management of Olgulului Group Ranch Post-mortem Findings External examination revealed the carcass was a sub adult female that was aged by her characteristic body spots. The carcass was bloated, decomposed and covered with blow flies and maggots, but had no external injuries.

Internal examination: the abdomen was bisected longitudinally and organs exteriorized for examination of internal viscera. The stomach was opened and brown and white skin retrieved from the lion stomach. The brown skin was identified to be calfskin, presumably from a preyed upon animal. The undigested skin and internal walls of the stomach had black colouration that was regarded unnatural Cause of Death Suspected poisoning. Stomach contents and liver were collected for submission to Government Chemist for full toxicological analysis. The carcass was fully disposed by burning.

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Case 5 – 24th May 2021 Wildebeest

Post-mortem

Kimana Sanctuary

A wildebeest , impala and zebra were reported to have died mysteriously at Kimana Sanctuary in Kimana Group Ranch.

Post-mortem Findings After a day long search, only one wildebeest carcass was found. The wildebeest died from a spinal injury most likely caused during a territorial fight.

Analysis of the sanctuary findings revealed nothing unnatural. The deaths reported were unrealistic/ exaggerated and did not express a real situation.

Any case of deaths were most likely natural and on a normal scale, so that scavengers quickly removed them before the veterinary visit.

Cause of Death Natural.

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Case 6 – 28th May 2021 Wild Dog

Snared

Tsavo East National Park

Kaluku SWT office reported a snared wild dog to AMVU. The SWT desnaring team further assisted in locating the wild dog for darting and treatment.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The wild dog was darted from a vehicle using a combination of 20 mg Ketamine hydrochloride and 1mg Medetomidine. The wild dog had a wire snare around the neck The wire was removed and the wound treated. Hydrogen peroxide debrided the dead tissue while Iodine solution was irrigated into the wound to cover for bacterial infection.

10ml Amoxicillin (Betamox®) and 1ml Ivermectin were used to protect against bacterial infection and parasitic infestation respectively.

Prognosis Sadly, the dog did not recover from the anaesthesia.

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