SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Veterinary Report for June 2021

SWT/KWS MARA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT JUNE 2021

Introduction

9 Cases in June

4 Poaching Cases

3 Predator Cases

June Report by Dr. Campaign K. Limo The area remained generally dry for most days of the month with some light showers experienced towards the end. The first herd of migratory wildebeests have been spotted as this coincides with the start of their annual migration to Masai Mara from Serengeti.

Among the cases handled over the month was a massive male crocodile in Mara River with a spear lodged in her back that was removed as well as a speared giraffe and eland. The Unit also treated an elephant for an arrow wound. Other cases included 3 lion treatments for natural causes, and the removal of a tight cloth from a young giraffe’s neck.

Acknowledgement The Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit would like to thank many stakeholders who helped report and monitor cases that required help. Thanks to Minara Foundation through SWT for their continued facilitation to the Unit. Thanks too to KWS management for their guidance and advice to the Unit.

Case Details Date

Species

Area Found

13-Jun-21

Crocodile

Lemek Conservancy

14-Jun-21

Zebra

15-Jun-21

Reason for Intervention

Outcome

Spear

This crocodile was seen with a spear lodged in his back. He was an attraction to many visitors of the lodge

Task Successful

Olarro Conservancy

Snared

This male zebra was seen with a loose plain wire snare round his neck

Successfully Treated

Giraffe

Oloisukut Conservancy

Natural Causes

An injury to his right shoulder revealed to be an ulcerated papilloma

Successfully Treated

16-Jun-21

Elephant

Mara North Conservancy

Arrow

Wounds on his left hind leg, upper right flank caused by arrowheads

Successfully Treated

19-Jun-21

Eland

Masai Mara NR

Spear

A spear had penetrated her right shoulder and appeared the opposite side of the body.

Successfully Treated

21-Jun-21

Lion

Masai Mara NR

Natural Causes

An injured right eye with excessive granuloma formation on the cornea

Successfully Treated

21-Jun-21

Lion

Masai Mara NR

Natural Causes

Three deep bite wounds on his left flank, perineal area and his tail

Successfully Treated

24-Jun-21

Lion

Masai Mara NR

Natural Causes

Sprain to her left carpus. No external injury, fracture or dislocation was detected

Successfully Treated

30-Jun-21

Giraffe

Naboisho Conservancy

HWC

Cloth tied on her neck by mischievous young herders

Successfully Treated

SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations June 2021

Case 1 – 13th June 2021 Crocodile

Spear

Lemek Conservancy

This crocodile was seen with a spear lodged in his back by the Mara Lodge Management who notified the Mobile Veterinary Unit for action. They reported that the crocodile was commonly seen around the lodge, basking on the riverbank. He was also an attraction to many visitors who patronize the lodge.

Examination and treatment This big crocodile was found basking on the riverbank, though he looked in pain. The river had a lot of hippos, and the waters were high. A kinked spear was firmly lodged in his back.

After considering several factors, capture of this crocodile using a net was thought to be difficult, given the presence of hippos, level of water and the steepness of the riverbank. The team decided to throw a rope round the kinked section of the spear without disturbing the crocodile. A guiding pole was used to fix a knot around the point of the kink without the crocodile noticing. The free part of the rope was tied to a fence pole as a precaution. The team then gently pulled out the spear using the rope as the crocodile dashed into the river. The spear was metallic and had firmly attached into the crocodile’s muscle tissues.

Prognosis Luckily the vital organs appeared to be undamaged. The crocodile swam into the river much relieved.

Case 2 – 14th June 2021 Zebra

Snared

Olarro Conservancy

This male zebra was seen with a loose plain wire snare round his neck by Olarro conservancy rangers on their daily patrols. They notified their management who called the mobile veterinary unit for help.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment He was found grazing with other zebras with the shiny plain wire snare visible from a distance. He appeared nervous on approach. He was darted from a vehicle with a combination of 6mgs Etorphine hydrochloride and 50mgs Azaperone tartarate delivered remotely through a 1.5ml dan-inject dart. The drugs took full effect after five minutes.

The wire snare was removed, and examination revealed no damage had been caused as the wire was loose.

No treatment was considered necessary as this zebra was in good body condition so the anaesthetic was reversed.

Prognosis Prognosis is good as the snare didn’t cause any injury.

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Case 3 – 15th June 2021 Giraffe

Natural Causes

Oloisukut Conservancy

This big bull, who was in the company of other big males, was seen with an injury on his right shoulder. This was thought to have been caused by spearing. The Unit found him browsing with other giraffes in relatively open ground. The discharging wound was visible from a distance.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment Immobilization was achieved by use of a combination of 12mgs etorphine and 50mgs azaperone delivered through a 3ml daninject dart from a vehicle. Induction time was 8 minutes after which he was helped to the ground with ropes. His head was held against the ground and the anaesthetic immediately reversed with 36mgs Diprenorphine hydrochloride through the jugular vein to avoid anaesthesia complications.

Examination revealed an ulcerated papilloma which had become septic and infested by maggots. All maggots were manually removed, and the dead tissue removed with Hydrogen Peroxide. The wound was rinsed with clean water, disinfected with tincture of Iodine then sprayed with Oxytetracycline spray. The zebra was also administered Amoxicillin antibiotics, Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories and Ivermectin antiparasitic.

Prognosis He was let free after treatment, and he rose up and dashed to where the other giraffes were browsing.

Case 4 – 16th June 2021

Elephant

Arrow

Mara North Conservancy

This big elephant was seen limping by Mara North Conservancy Rangers and Mara Elephant Project Teams.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment He was found alone in a bushy area near Mara Riverbank within Mara North Conservancy. The bushy nature of the area and proximity to the riverbank made approach with a vehicle challenging. The elephant could also easily cross the river upon agitation. Therefore, a helicopter was used to push him out of the bush and prevent him from crossing the river. He had a visible septic wound on caudal aspect of his right carpus. Due to the challenging terrain, the elephant was darted from the air with 18mgs Etorphine hydrochloride Examination revealed wounds on his left hind leg just below his knee and his upper right flank caused by arrows. They were all septic, and a barbed non-poisoned arrowhead was retrieved from the wound on the hind leg. The wounds were debrided with Hydrogen peroxide, rinsed with clean water and disinfected with Iodine. To access the injured right forelimb, the elephant was gently turned over with ropes and two vehicles. Examination revealed a spear wound on the caudal aspect of his right carpus which was septic, as well as an arrow embedded in his right shoulder. The arrowhead was retrieved and was barbed but not poisoned. The wounds were managed in the same way as the other wounds then the elephant was administered Amoxicillin antibiotics and Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories.

Prognosis Prognosis is good.

Case 5 – 19th June 2021 Eland

Spear

Masai Mara National Reserve

This eland was seen with a spear through its side by Mara National Reserve Rangers on their normal patrols near Talek gate. It was suspected to have been speared within community areas but took refuge in the protected area. The Unit found the eland with another eland amongst several zebras. She was in great distress as the spear penetrated her right shoulder and partly appearing on the opposite side of the body.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The vehicle was darted with a combination of 8mgs Etorphine hydrochloride and 60mgs Azaperone tartarate. It took five minutes for the drugs to take full effect with this eland assuming left lateral recumbency. She was placed on sternal recumbency, and the spear pulled out carefully to avoid causing more damage.

Examination revealed there was no damage to any of the vital organs and this eland was pregnant. The resultant wound was debrided with Hydrogen peroxide and a through and through lavage performed with copious amount of clean water. Tincture of iodine was then applied as a disinfectant and Cloxacillin ointment infused into the wound. The eland was also administered with Amoxicillin antibiotics, Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories and Ivermectin parasiticides.

Prognosis Given that no vital organ was damaged, she is expected to heal. Rangers were advised to monitor and report her progress.

Case 6 – 21st June 2021 Lion

Natural Causes

Masai Mara National Reserve

This female, in the company of a male, was seen with an injured right eye by Mara Conservancy Rangers. The Unit found her in a relatively open area with the male. Her right eye was injured though her body condition looked good.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment Immobilization was achieved with a combination of 6mgs Medetomidine and 250mgs Ketamine delivered through a 3ml dan-inject dart from a vehicle with the drugs taking full effect after ten minutes. The male was gently pushed away and the female put in a comfortable position then blindfolded.

Examination revealed an injured right eye with excessive granuloma formation on the cornea. This granuloma prevented the eyelids from coming together causing great discomfort for this female. This damage to the eye could have been caused by other lions and estimated to have occurred about a week before treatment. The eye was washed with clean water and the granulomatous tissue removed surgically to allow the eyelids to close. She was also given a subconjunctival injection of long-acting Amoxicillin antibiotics and Dexamethasone sodium anti-inflammatories in one syringe as well as parenteral administration of amoxicillin antibiotics and ivermectin parasiticide. Topical Cloxacillin antibiotics was also applied to the eye.

Prognosis The aim was to relieve pain and discomfort for this lioness, but visual functions of the eye could not be guaranteed because of damage to the cornea. This lioness will heal from the injury but will lose the functions of her right eye.

Case 7 – 21st June 2021 Lion

Natural Causes

Masai Mara National Reserve

This male, a member of the popular Black Rock pride, was attacked by rival males when he wandered off his territory.

Visitors who witnessed the encounter notified the Masai Mara Reserve Management for attention. It was agreed that this male, who had joined his two brothers, be monitored briefly before intervention was carried out. Three days after the fight, some wounds appeared likely to become septic and a decision to immobilize and treat him was arrived at.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment He was found relaxing in a grassy area with two of his brothers. The wounds were relatively fresh but at risk of becoming septic. He was darted from a vehicle with 6mgs Medetomidine and 250mgs Ketamine. The drugs took full effect after ten minutes and his brothers were pushed slightly away to give room for examination and treatment.

After placing him in a comfortable position, examination revealed three deep bite wounds to his left flank, perineal area and his tail. They appeared relatively fresh, and all were debrided with Hydrogen peroxide and gauze swabs. They were then rinsed with clean water before tincture of Iodine was applied as a disinfectant. Other treatments given include parenteral administration of Amoxicillin antibiotic and Ivermectin parasiticide.

Prognosis He got up eight minutes after the anaesthetic was reversed and was soon joined by his brothers. Prognosis is good.

Case 8 – 24th June 2021 Lion

Natural Causes

Masai Mara National Reserve

This lioness was seen limping heavily on her front left limb by Olderkesi Conservancy and Masai Mara National Reserve Rangers on their normal patrols who informed the Vet Unit. She was traced to a relatively open area, relaxing with her three grown up cubs. She moved with difficulty with signs of great pain. .

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The lion was darted from a vehicle with 6mgs Medetomidine hydrochloride and Ketamine hydrochloride delivered through a 3ml dan-inject dart. The drugs took full effect after nine minutes.

Examination revealed the likely cause of her limb was a sprain to her left carpus. No external injury, fracture or dislocation was detected on palpation. She could have sustained the injury while hunting. The whole limb was massaged for ten minutes then Dexamethasone sodium anti-inflammatory was given intramuscularly.

She was also given prophylactic antibiotics intramuscularly and Ivermectin antiparasitic subcutaneously.

Prognosis Prognosis is good.

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Case 9 – 30th June 2021 Giraffe

Human-Wildlife Conflict

Naboisho Conservancy

This young calf was spotted by visitors to the Conservancy, with a group of other calves and their mothers, with a cloth tied round her neck. They notified the Conservancy Management who called the Vet Unit. .

Immobilisation, examination and treatment Given her age, the team decided against giving her a totally immobilizing drug, but rather something to calm her and minimize immobilization risks. She was darted from a vehicle with 40mgs Azaperone tartarate. The drugs took full effect after ten minutes upon which this calf was approached gently with a vehicle.

She was additionally manually restrained and the tight cloth untied from the neck. No injuries had been caused by the cloth. It was assumed this cloth was tied on her neck by mischievous young herders when they stumbled on this calf while a few days old.

Prognosis She was released as soon as the cloth was removed, and she dashed straight to her waiting mother much relieved. Given there was no injury caused by the cloth, no complications are expected to develop.

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