SWT/KWS AMBOSELI MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT APRIL 2021
Introduction
6 Cases in April
2 Poaching Cases
3 Elephant Cases
April Report by Dr. Dr Kariuki Edward SCA-Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit (SCA-AMVU) attended six veterinary cases during April 2021. Post-mortems were conducted on two lions, two elephants and a hyena. A lion and a hyena were found dead after preying on livestock and the evidence points towards poisoning. In a separate incident, another lion was found near Amboseli and most likely also died of poisoning. One of the elephants died from apparent natural causes whereas the other had arrow wounds, and the trunk and tusks had been removed. A third elephant was treated for suspected spear wounds but should make a full recovery and an eland had to be euthanised as it sustained a fracture and could not survive in the wild. Acknowledgement We thank Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) for material support and Mobile Unit funding. Staff and rangers at Amboseli National Parks, Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust and Olgulului 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
5-Apr-21
Predators
Kuku Group Ranch
5-Apr-21
Lion
Amboseli Environs
9-Apr-21
Elephant
Amboseli Environs
14-Apr-21
Elephant
14-Apr-21 24-Apr-21
Reason for Intervention Human Wildlife Conflict Human Wildlife Conflict
Outcome
A lion and a hyena reportedly died following livestock predation
HWC Death
The lion carcass was bloated and decomposed but displayed no injuries
HWC Death
Spear
Had a suspected spear wound on the right forelimb above the knee joint
Successfully Treated
Amboseli Environs
Postmortem
The elephant was found dead in the riverside thicket at Osewan village
Died
Eland
Amboseli Environs
Natural Causes
Eland that was immobile and had a fracture
Died
Elephant
Kitenden Conservancy
Arrow
The trunk was truncated and separated from the carcass body. Tusks were removed and missing
Poaching Death
SWT/KWS Amboseli Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations April 2021
Case 1 – 5th April 2021 Lion/Hyena
Human-wildlife Conflict
Kuku Group Ranch
The management of Kuku group Ranch reported a lion and a hyena that died following livestock predation to AMVU. The carcasses were found at the Mutikanju area during the daily field patrol.
General Observation The lion carcass was already decomposed and flooded with soil following the previous night long rains. Internal examination was not possible as all tissues were decomposed and probably eaten up. The suspected hyena carcass had been eaten and barely any remains could be traced. The skeletal structures were unavailable, and nothing could help tell if the little tissue remains were from a hyena apart from history. Cause of Death Suspected poisoning due to livestock predation in the area and close proximity of the carcasses.
Case 2 – 5th April 2021 Lion
Human-wildlife Conflict
Olgulului Group Ranch, Amboseli Environs
The Amboseli Mobile Vet Unit received the report of a dead lion at Osewan from the management of Olgulului Group Ranch on 4th April 2021. The death followed reports of livestock predation in the Osewan area.
General Observation External examination revealed the lion carcass was bloated and decomposed but displayed no injuries. Internal examination revealed the abdomen was bisected longitudinally and the organs exteriorized for examination of internal viscera. The abdominal space had red coloured fatty deposits and a mesh of clotted blood. The stomach was opened and brown skin retrieved from the lion stomach. The brown skin was identified to be calfskin. The undigested skin had black colouration that was regarded unnatural. Cause of Death Suspected poisoning. Stomach contents and liver were collected and submitted to Government Chemist for full toxicology analysis.
Case 3 – 9th April 2021 Elephant
Spear
Olgulului Group Ranch, Amboseli Environs
Kitenden Community rangers at Olgulului Group Ranch reported the injured elephant to AMVU. The team further assisted in locating the elephant for darting and treatment.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment The elephant was darted from a vehicle using 20 mg Etorphine hydrochloride. Physical examination revealed the elephant had a suspected spear wound on the right forelimb slightly above the knee joint. The wound was opened, and the pus drained by piercing with pointed forceps. Hydrogen peroxide debrided the dead tissue while Iodine solution was irrigated into the wound to control for bacterial infection. 100ml Amoxicillin (Betamox®) and 25ml Flunixin were used to prevent bacterial infection and the inflammatory reaction, respectively. Prognosis The elephant should make a full recovery.
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Case 4 – 14th April 2021 Elephant
Post-mortem
Amboseli Environs
A report of a dead elephant was received by AMVU from the KWS Kajiado office. Olgulului Community Scouts assisted the AMVU in examining the carcass. KWS Rangers recovered the tusks from the carcass the night before.
Post-mortem Observations The elephant was found dead on the right lateral recumbence in a riverside thicket at Osewan village. The elephant died away from human habitation and its activities before death could not be established. The elephant was a male aged about 35-50 years. No external injuries were established from the intact body parts of the carcass. The autolytic process and bacterial activity of the soft tissues were advanced and fluid exudates produced. Red-brown fluid from the mouth and anus filled the ground beside the carcass. Gas-filled cutaneous vesicles, fluid exudates and areas with oozing fluids were observed. The carcass was fully colonized with live blowflies and maggots invaded the tissues. The carcass demonstrated advanced bacterial putrefaction with massive gas production and bloat. The carcass was about 4-5 days old and advanced carcass decomposition hindered pathological examination. However, nothing unnatural was established. Cause of Death Non-conclusive but probably natural.
Case 5 – 14th April 2021 Eland
Natural Causes
Osoit, Amboseli Environs
KWS Park patrol team reported a male Eland that was immobile and had a fracture.
Immobilisation and Examination Gross Examination, the eland had a compound fracture on the left hind limb. Management The antelope was euthanized on welfare grounds as the fracture was irreparable, especially in wild conditions, and the eland was in a lot of pain.
Case 6 – 24th April 2021 Elephant
Arrow
Kitenden Conservancy
The Senior Warden, Amboseli NP reported a dead elephant to the AMVU. The tusks had been removed by an unknown person and the carcass concealed with acacia branches.
Post-mortem Examination The elephant was found on the left side in an acacia thicket near the Tanzanian border. Two huge branches of acacia covered the carcass. There were a lot of hyena footprints, and two elephants at the scene. One of the bulls impeded access to the carcass. The carcass was a bull elephant about 20-30 years old. The trunk was separated from the carcass, the tusks had been removed and scavengers had opened the abdomen. A sharp-edged penetrating narrow wound to the body oozed with blood and penetrated the body tissues. The tissues around the wound had changed colour. No other wounds could be established. The autolytic process and bacterial activity of the soft tissues were in progress. Red-brown fluid was on the ground beside the head and the anus but were not maximally produced as would occur in an old carcass. Gas-filled cutaneous vesicles and fluid exudates were observed only around the chest. The carcass was partly colonized with live blowflies and maggots and had advanced bacterial putrefaction with gas production but no bloat, possibly attributed to exteriorized and scavenged internal organs. The carcass was approximately 2-3 days old. Cause of Death Missing tusks, cut trunk, the wound and concealing branches points to poaching likely by poisoned arrow.