SWT/KWS MARA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT JULY 2021
Introduction
7 Cases in July
5 Poaching Cases
5 Elephant Cases
July Report by Dr. Campaign Limo The month was characterised by decreased precipitation with the annual migration of wildebeests from the Serengeti to the Mara ongoing. There is still plenty of food and water for all wildlife to utilise. The Unit attended to 5 elephants, 1 cheetah and a zebra. Four of the elephants were treated for poaching related wounds whilst the fifth was a rescued infant that was barely breathing. The zebra was also rescued from a snare whereas the cheetah was treated for injuries inflicted by other cheetahs. Acknowledgement Mara Mobile Veterinary unit would like to thank all stakeholders who helped report and join them in treating cases that required hep during the month. Thanks to Minara Foundation through SWT for their continued facilitation of the unit. Thanks to KWS management for the technical advice and guidance to the unit.
Case Details Date
Species
Area Found
Reason for Intervention
19-Jul-21
Elephant
Olkinyei Conservancy
Bullet Wound
A deep penetrating wound just above his middle toe caused by a high projectile object
Prognosis Poor
20-Jul-21
Elephant
Olare Orok Conservancy
Arrow
A septic arrow wound on lateral side of his right shoulder with purulent discharge
Successfully Treated
21-Jul-21
Elephant
Masai Mara NR
Rescue
24-Jul-21
Elephant
Olkinyei Conservancy
Spear
25-Jul-21
Elephant
Siana Conservancy
Spear
25-Jul-21
Cheetah
Masai Mara NR
Natural Causes
27-Jul-21
Zebra
Olare Orok Conservancy
Snared
A severely dehydrated calf with signs of hypoglycaemia and hypothermia. He was barely breathing Retreatment for a spear wound to the leg. The wound had completely healed the elephant was limping due to affected joints The elephant had a maggot infested spear wound. This was a poison laced spear causing severe necrosis of tissues A member of the famous five male coalition was attacked by his group for unknown reasons. He was beaten and injured by the other cheetahs The zebra had a loose wire snare around his neck but no injuries had been caused
Outcome
Taken to Orphanage Successfully Treated Successfully Treated Successfully Treated Successfully Treated
SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations July 2021
Case 1 – 19th July 2021 Elephant
Bullet Wound
Olkinyei Conservancy
This bull was seen walking with difficulty by Olkinyei Conservancy Rangers. The Vet Unit found him alone browsing in a thicket. He refused to be pushed out of the thicket and retreated further into a hilly rocky part of the bush. After several attempts to push him out with vehicles failed, services of a helicopter were requested which pushed him to the edge of the bush for treatment.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment Immobilization was achieved with 16mgs Etorphine hydrochloride. It took ten minutes for the drugs to take full effect with this elephant assuming right lateral recumbency. Examination revealed a deep penetrating wound anteriorly just above his middle toe. The wound appeared to be three days old and caused by a high projectile object lodging deep into the metatarsals. The wound was probed and cleaned with clean water and disinfected with tincture of Iodine. Cloxacillin ointment was then infused as an antibiotic then Amoxicillin and Flunixin meglumine were administered. Prognosis Prognosis is Guarded.
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Case 2 – 20th July 2021 Elephant
Arrow
Olare Orok Conservancy
This bull, in a herd of hundreds of elephants at Olare Motorogi Conservancy, was seen moving with difficulty by Conservancy Rangers. The Vet Unit was found with a discharging wound on the right shoulder. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The elephant was darted from a vehicle with 16mgs Etorphine hydrochloride. He took off for a few minutes after being darted but eventually calmed down and was overwhelmed by anaesthetics nine minutes post darting. He assumed left lateral recumbency. Examination revealed a septic arrow wound on the lateral side of his right shoulder with purulent discharge. Probing of the wound was negative for any foreign body. The wound was debrided and all necrotic tissues removed with Hydrogen peroxide and then rinsed with clean water. Tincture of Iodine was introduced for disinfection and green clay applied to stop further sepsis and absorb toxins. Other treatments given included parenteral administration of Amoxicillin long-acting antibiotics and Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories. Prognosis He woke up two minutes after the anaesthetic was reversed and joined the herd. Prognosis is good.
Case 3 – 21st July 2021 Elephant
Rescue
Masai Mara National Reserve
This young calf was seen by Community Members who border the Masai Mara National Reserve alone and weak. The elephant herds passing by were not interested in him.
Rescue By the time the rescue teams arrived, he had disappeared, and a frantic search was mounted. Helicopter services were available to comb the thick forest. After several hours of searching, a herd’s boy spotted him recumbent in a shady area. Quick examination revealed a severely dehydrated calf with signs of hypoglycaemia and hypothermia. He was barely breathing. He was immediately given Dextrose then normal saline via a drip and Dexamethasone anti-inflammatory intravenously. Amoxicillin antibiotics were also given intramuscularly. He regained a bit of strength and started breathing well, micturated and defaecated. Arrangements were made to take him to Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage in Nairobi by air and he was taken to a nearby airstrip. He had not regained full strength when being loaded to the plane so continued with intravenous drip of ringer’s lactate solution. Prognosis He was taken to the orphanage but his condition was not very good. Prognosis was considered guarded.
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Case 4 – 24th July 2021 Elephant
Spear
Olkinyei Conservancy
This young female was seen by Olkinyei Conservancy Rangers walking with a slight limp on her left foreleg. This elephant was elusive and aggressive and hid in a big bush unwilling to come into the open. A helicopter, which was nearby, helped push her out of the thicket. She was limping on her left foreleg and appeared to be a young female treated earlier in the year at Naboisho Conservancy for a deep spear wound on the back side of her left carpus. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The elephant was darted from a vehicle with 14mgs Etorphine hydrochloride with the drugs taking full effect after eight minutes. She assumed right lateral recumbency. Examination confirmed her as the elephant earlier treated for a spear wound on the same leg. The wound had completely healed with this elephant limping because of the already affected joint structures. She was given dexamethasone anti-inflammatories and long acting oxytetracycline antibiotics, both intramuscularly. Prognosis Good. She had already healed and she will be walking with a limp. Her overall health was good.
Case 5 – 25th July 2021 Elephant
Spear
Siana Conservancy
This young bull was seen with a big gaping wound on his left hind leg by the Mara Siana Conservancy Rangers on their normal patrols. The Vet Unit found this young bull hiding in a small thicket. He was gently pushed out of the bush for a better look. He had a big septic wound on the anterior side of his left hind leg Immobilisation, examination and treatment Restraint was achieved chemically with the use of 13mgs Etorphine hydrochloride delivered through a 1.5ml dan-inject dart with this elephant being overwhelmed by drugs eight minutes after darting. Examination revealed a big septic wound infested by maggots caused by spearing. This was a poison laced spear causing severe necrosis of tissues around the wound. The spear also hit the bone causing a small crack. The wound was debrided with Hydrogen peroxide and all necrotic tissues were removed. Maggots were pulled out manually and the wound rinsed with clean water. Tincture of Iodine was applied for disinfection and green clay packed into the wound for toxin absorption and prevention pf further sepsis. Other treatments given included long acting Amoxicillin antibiotics and Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatory. Prognosis Favourable. Rangers were advised to monitor and report progress for possible repeat treatment.
Case 6 – 25th July 2021 Cheetah
Natural Causes
Masai Mara National Reserve
This male is a member of the famous five male coalition in Mara. He was attacked by the other males for unknown reasons. He had left the coalition for few weeks but was unwelcome when he tried to re-join. The Unit found him alone, lying near the edge of a lugga covered with dirt. He had been pinned down in a dirty pool. One of his eyes appeared injured and it looked like he was in pain. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The cheetah was darted from a vehicle with 1.6mgs Medetomidine and 110mgs Ketamine with the drugs taking ten minutes to take full effect. After confirming he was in a comfortable position, the cheetah was examined which revealed multiple bite wounds and damage to the right eye. All the wounds were cleaned with water, disinfected with Iodine and Cloxacillin antibiotic applied to prevent sepsis. The damaged eye was cleaned, and a mixture of Dexamethasone and long-acting Amoxicillin administered subconjunctivally as well as Cloxacillin eye ointment. The cheetah was also given Amoxicillin antibiotic. Prognosis He was moved to a safe place within the Reserve away from the other four males. The cheetah will heal from the injuries apart from the damaged eye where he might only regain a small percentage sight
Case 7 – 27th July 2021 Zebra
Snare
Olare Orok Conservancy
This zebra was seen with a wire round his neck by the Conservancy Rangers on their normal patrols. The Unit found him grazing with other zebras in an open area with the wire still dangling from his neck. He was nervous but was in good body condition.
Immobilization, examination and treatment Immobilization was achieved by use of a combination of 6mgs Etorphine hydrochloride and 60mgs Azaperone delivered through a 1.5ml dan-inject dart. The zebra was darted from a vehicle with the drugs taking full effect after four minutes. After making sure he was in a stable condition, an examination was conducted which revealed no other problem apart from the loose wire snare round his neck. This was a plain wire but luckily no injuries were caused. The wire was removed and the anaesthetic reversed. Prognosis He got up one and a half minutes after the anaesthetic was reversed and joined the other zebras. As there were no injuries, he will make a full recovery.
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