SWT/KWS MARA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT JUNE 2020
Introduction
6 Cases in June
3 Poaching Cases
5 Elephant Cases
June Report by Dr. Campaign Limo The area received continuous precipitation during the month with a decrease in intensity towards the end. Movement within the ecosystem especially around the Game Reserve has been greatly hampered by damaged roads as a result of the rains. The month witnessed an increase in the number of conflict cases. One elephant was given a poor prognosis due to a serious spear wound, and later succumbed to his injuries and another elephant died from other causes but an arrowhead was retrieved during the post-mortem. Acknowledgement The Mara Mobile veterinary unit would like to thank all stakeholders who helped in one way or the other towards the rescue and intervention of wildlife who required assistance during the period. Much appreciation to Minara Foundation through The SWT for their facilitation to the unit. Many thanks to KWS too for the continuous support and technical advice to the unit.
Case Details Date
Species
Area Found
06-Jun-20
Elephant
Siana Conservancy
06-Jun-20
Elephant
13-Jun-20
Giraffe
Reason for Intervention
Outcome
Rescue
This young calf was seen wandering alone within the conservancy with no herd nearby
Taken to Orphanage
Siana Conservancy
Spear
Multiple spear wounds and one arrow wound
Successfully Treated
Olarro Conservancy
Snared
15-Jun-20
Ol Choro Elephant Oiroua Conservancy
Human Wildlife Conflict
16-Jun-20
Elephant
Masai Mara
Postmortem
26-Jun-20
Elephant
Masai Mara
Spear
She was found isolated and appeared to be in great pain. She could hardly move even on agitation This elephant crossed the Mara River to community lands which led to conflict resulting in the elephant being shot with arrows and spears This old bull was found dead near Mararianta market by locals who informed KWS, Mara North conservancy A deep penetrating spear wound to his right knee joint approximately eight inches deep
Poaching Death Prognosis Poor
Died Successfully Treated
SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations June 2020
. Case
1 – 6th June 2020
Elephant
Rescue
Siana Conservancy
This young calf was seen wandering alone within the Conservancy by the Elephant Aware team and no other herd was nearby. They monitored her for the next 24 hours where she joined an injured bull and they stayed together. Though she was still in good body condition, she could not survive in the wild given that her age required protection and milk dependency so it was decided that she needed to be rescued. Rescue The calf was separated from the bull then physically restrained. She was loaded onto a truck and given an Azaperone tartarate injection to calm her as she was being taken to the Siana airstrip. She was collected by a rescue plane sent from Nairobi and then taken to the Sheldrick wildlife Trust elephant orphanage in Nairobi. The whole rescue process went on successfully.
Case 2 – 6th June 2020 Elephant
Spear
Siana Conservancy
This bull was seen walking with a limp by the Olarro Conservancy Rangers and he was co- incidentally joined by an abandoned female calf. Treatment of the bull commenced after the calf had been rescued. He had a small wound on caudal aspect of his left carpus. He also had an old wound on his right rump. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The elephant was darted from a vehicle with 16mgs Etorphine hydrochloride. It took ten minutes for the drugs to take full effect and the elephant assumed left lateral recumbency. Examination revealed a small wound on his right rump likely caused by spearing. The wound was probed then cleaned with Hydrogen peroxide and water. No foreign body was detected. The wound was disinfected with Iodine then green clay was applied to hasten healing. The elephant was rolled over to examine the left side of his body which revealed a small arrow wound to his left carpus and a spear wound to his trunk. These wounds were estimated to be three to four days old. No foreign bodies were detected and these wounds were managed the same way as the first wound. The elephant was also given Amoxicillin antibiotics and Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories. Prognosis He got up 3 minutes after the anesthetic was reversed, stood briefly before moving away. Prognosis is good.
Case 3 – 13th June 2020 Giraffe
Snared
Olarro Conservancy
This giraffe had a tight snare around her leg which hindered her mobility. The Vet Unit found her isolated, in great pain and barely able to move. The joint was grossly swollen and the giraffe had lost condition. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The giraffe was darted from a vehicle with a combination of 10mgs Etorphine hydrochloride and 50mgs Azaperone; she was fully narcotized after ten minutes. Examination revealed a tight wire snare on her right leg at the joint which could have been in place for over a month. Her body condition appeared poor though she was gravid. The snare was partially buried in the skin and the wound was already infested with maggots. Some of the tendons were severed. The wire was removed and the resultant wound debrided with Hydrogen peroxide. All the maggots were manually removed and the wound rinsed with water, disinfected with Iodine then sprayed with Oxytetracycline wound spray. The giraffe was also given Amoxicillin antibiotics, Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories and Ivermectin parasiticide to take care of internal and external parasites. Prognosis She made two attempts to get up then was assisted to rise but she could not support herself. Her problems were exacerbated by her pregnancy. She was given Butosal to help boost muscle and nerve functions, then left to relax; however she succumbed at night while the Conservancy Rangers were guarding her.
Case 4 – 15th June 2020 Elephant
Human-Wildlife Conflict
Ol Choro Oiroua Conservancy
This elephant crossed the Mara River into Community farms which led to conflict with the farming community. Mara Elephant project with KWS teams guided this elephant back to the Conservancy. The elephant had taken refuge in a thick forest and a helicopter was sourced to gently push him into an open area for treatment. He had four arrowheads, two on either side of his rump, one on the left cheek and another one in his back as well as a big spear wound on the left side of his chest. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The elephant was darted from a vehicle with 16mgs Etorphine hydrochloride. Examination revealed the elephant had been attacked with arrows and spears causing severe injuries. The four arrowheads were retrieved and the wounds flushed with water, disinfected with tincture of iodine, infused with Cloxacillin ointment then sprayed with Oxytetracycline spray. All arrowheads were barbed but did not appear poisoned. The spear wound to his chest was deep with severe bleeding from damage to a major vessel. Bleeders were ligated and deep tissues sutured with absorbable sutures which halted the bleeding. Prognosis He was given a guarded prognosis and was monitored following treatment. He showed signs of improvement, however on the tenth day post treatment, he moved a great distance and was sadly found dead the next morning. He succumbed to the injuries particularly the penetrating spear wound to his chest.
Case 5 – 16th June 2020 Elephant
Post-mortem
Masai Mara
This old bull was found dead near the Mararianta market by locals. History gathered indicated that this bull was regularly seen with three other bulls around Mararianta. He is said to have frequented villages and was known to resist any attempts to drive him away. The locals, including the administrators, within the area described him as a harmless old bull that had been in the area for the last three years. Post-mortem Examination He was found on the left side with both tusks intact. The trunk and lower abdomen were partly mauled by scavengers. His body condition was considered satisfactory. No wound was seen on the right side of his body so he was flipped over with a vehicle revealing an old suppurating wound to the left abdomen. On opening the carcass, the following findings were noted; the lungs were congested with a lot of fluid, the liver was severely congested, (it was almost twice the weight expected), the kidneys were congested and grossly enlarged and the spleen was slightly engorged. The heart appeared enlarged and there was notable thickening and enlargement of the left ventricle. An arrowhead was found embedded in the abdominal muscles. Virtually all abdominal organs were congested with a picture of circulatory stasis Cause of Death The elephant appeared to have suffered a chronic heart condition which eventually led to heart failure. The arrowhead was an incidental finding and couldn’t have caused death given that it hit none of the vital organs.
Case 6 – 26th June 2020 Elephant
Spear
Masai Mara
This bull was found alone and moving with difficulty by the Mara Veterinary Unit. Closer observation revealed a spear wound on the anterior aspect of his right knee joint. The Mara Reserve Management was informed to join in the treatment activity with the chief park warden turning up to be part of the team.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment After driving him to a relatively open area, he was darted with 17mgs Etorphine hydrochloride from a vehicle. The drugs took full effect after ten minutes with this elephant assuming sternal recumbency. He was pushed onto his left lateral side for ease of breathing. Examination revealed a deep penetrating spear wound to his right knee joint approximately eight inches deep. This was estimated to be two days old. The spear accessed the joint structures but did not inflict much damage. The wound was relatively fresh and was rinsed with clean water, disinfected with tincture of Iodine then infused with green clay to prevent sepsis and hasten healing. This elephant received parenteral Amoxicillin antibiotics and Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories. Prognosis Prognosis for full recovery is good.