SWT/KWS Meru Mobile Veterinary Report for January 2022

SWT/KWS MERU MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT JANUARY 2022

Introduction

4 Cases in January 2022

1 Poaching Case

75% Success

January Report by Dr. Ndambiri Ephantus January was expected to be dry as a signal of the start of the dry period. Fortunately, this has not been the case as the month has been rainier and cooler than expected. This is thought to have been contributed to a spill-over of the wet season possibly due to the initial delay of the start of rains at the end of 2021. The ecosystem vegetation is therefore sufficient to support the wild animals in terms of browse and water.

During the month the Unit attended to 4 cases including a young white rhino that became entangled in fencing wire. An elephant that had been speared and two zebra with natural wounds, most likely failed predation attempts. Other activities included examination of ivory pieces and attendance of a meeting to review the proposed translocation and rewilding of African savanna elephants from Howletts wild animal park, United Kingdom to Mwaluganje Conservancy in Kwale County, Kenya.

Acknowledgement The Unit performance is deeply rooted and anchored in the massive sponsorship of The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. This collaboration is highly appreciated and massively encouraged. All other support from the Conservation partners and communities where these interventions were successfully carried out are also hereby acclaimed. God bless All abundantly.

Case Details Date

Species

Area Found

18-Jan-22

Rhino White

Meru National Park

26-Jan-22

Elephant

Ol Malo Conservancy

26-Jan-22

Zebra

26-Jan-22

Zebra

Meru National Park Meru National Park

Reason for Intervention HWC

Spear

Natural Causes Natural Causes

The plain wire coil fencing wire was entangled around its’ leg and body A penetrating wound at the mid area of the left ear and into the left shoulder joint. This was suspected to have been caused by a spear It had sustained predation wounds on the right rump and mid right frank plus left knee.

All were septic and foul smelling An extensive contaminated wound on the right rump and other less extensive wounds on the left rump

Outcome Successfully Treated Prognosis Poor Successfully Treated Successfully Treated

SWT/KWS Meru Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations January 2022

Case 1 – 18th January 2022 White Rhino

Human-wildlife Conflict

Meru National Park

The calf was with its mother and another adult female in a plain when it was spotted to have a coil of wire around its’ body. The case was reported by Rhino Rangers on duty prompting a quick intervention.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The three were grazing in a plain when the Unit arrived. As the dart was being prepared, an adult male dashed from a nearby thicket and charged towards the three. It seemed like this was a mating partner. As he passed near the calf, the plain wire coil somehow entangled the males leg which pulled it from the calf. They were both startled and started running away. The Unit followed to establish whether the wire had fallen off but it was still around the front limb. After about one kilometre the wire was finally pulled free from the male after getting stuck on a thicket. All four rhinos were left to settle down after recovering the coil wire.

Lucky enough there was no resultant traumatic wound/injury hence no treatment was carried out.

Recommendation The sanctuary should be combed for any loose wires to avoid potential injurious and/or fatal wire entanglements. These long wires are thought to have been pulled away by elephants as they break fences into the sanctuary. Rhino Rangers should be on lookout and retrieve them before they cause harm.

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Case 2 – 26th January 2022 Elephant

Spear

Ol Malo Conservancy

The Unit were transported to the Nanyuki Airstrip using a vehicle then flown on a chartered fixed wing to Kimanju Airstrip. The Ol maro helicopter chopper was waiting to assist in locating the lame elephant.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The elephant was found trailing its’ family, limping severely on the left forelimb. The helicopter approached it slowly and it was darted with 11mgs Etorphine. Quick assessment revealed a penetrating wound to the mid area of the left ear into the left shoulder joint, suspected to have been caused by a spear. Both wounds were septic and full of thick creamy pus. The treatment had to be done quickly as the elephant was in a jeopardising position, sternal recumbency, and the challenging terrain did not allow for position adjustment.

Pus was pressed out of the shoulder and a draining skin puncture was done to facilitate wound self-drainage.

No foreign bodies were found in the wounds, which were both cleaned with Hydrogen Peroxide and Tincture of Iodine. Wet green clay was infiltrated into the wound then it was sprayed with Tetracycline wound spray.

It was administered 40ml Flunixin Meglumine, 40ml of Cyanocobalamin and 80ml Enrofloxacin.

Prognosis Prognosis guarded as the extent of internal injury couldn’t be established. A review is scheduled after a week.

Case 3 – 26th January 2022 Zebra

Natural Causes

Meru National Park

The injured female was spotted and reported by Elsa Tour Driver to the Meru Mobile Veterinary Unit late on the evening of the 25th and intervention was planned for the following day. It had sustained predation wounds on the right rump and mid right frank plus left knee. All were septic and foul smelling.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The zebra was darted from a vehicle into the right shoulder with 7mgs Etorphine and 60mgs Azaperone. It was startled and ran about 20 meters, eventually lying immobilized on left lateral recumbence.

All wounds were meticulously cleaned with water, then disinfected with Hydrogen Peroxide and Tincture of Iodine. All dead tissue, pus, maggots and debris were cautiously removed. Within the pockets two pessaries were inserted into the rump wound and one in the mid flank. All were smeared with 10mls Ivermectin to cover against maggot infestation and covered with Healing oil. All were covered with wet green clay to encourage tissue regeneration then sprayed with Tetracycline wound spray was done to repel insects. It was injected with 30ml Enrofloxacin, 25ml Catosal, 30ml Dexamethasone and 10ml Ivermectin.

Prognosis Prognosis was fair.

Case 4 – 26th January 2022 Zebra

Natural Causes

Meru National Park

The injured female was spotted immediately after the Grevy’s treatment because she was isolated from her herd. She had an extensive contaminated wound to the right rump and a few others less extensive on the left rump. She exhibited mild lameness on the right hind limb. All were septic and foul smelling.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment It was darted in the left shoulder with 5mgs Etorphine and 50mgs Azaperone. It ran for about 50 meters then lay immobilized on right lateral recumbence. A blindfold was placed around the forehead.

The wounds were pedantically cleaned with water, then disinfected with Hydrogen Peroxide and Tincture of Iodine. All dead tissue, pus, maggots and debris were cautiously removed. The wounds were then smeared with 15mls of Ivermectin to cover against maggot infestation and then covered in Healing Oil. All wounds were covered with wet green clay and sprayed with Tetracycline wound spray was done to repel insects.

Systematically it was injected with 30ml Enrofloxacin, 25ml Catosal and 30ml Dexamethasone at different muscle sites. 10ml Ivermectin was injected under the skin to act as broad-spectrum anti-parasitic agent.

Prognosis Prognosis was fair.

Other Activities – Ivory Tusk Examination Five suspected pieces of ivories were presented by Acting Warden 3 Mr. Charles Kuraru; the in-charge Meru National Park Investigation Unit at Kinna Headquarters of Meru National Park on 15/10/2021 for examination. On the 12th January 2022, the Unit was called upon to provide an expert report.

The five pieces marked A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 needed to be examined to ascertain whether they were indeed elephant ivory tusks. The five pieces had been seized from two suspects.

Examination The methodology applied was visual appraisal on morphology and biometry. This was the best suited method because the whole structures (ivories) are fairly easy to identify basing on animal anatomy and by the fact that there was no disguise exhibited. All exhibited presented for examination were confirmed beyond reasonable doubt to be elephant ivory tusks.

Other Activities – Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Report The KWS Veterinary and Capture Department was invited by WRTI for participation and contribution into the ESIA study regarding translocation and rewilding of 13 elephants from Kent UK to Golini/Mwaluganje Community Conservancy Kenya at Kwale Golden Hotel between 17th and 22nd, January 2022.

Project Background The Aspinall Foundation (TAF) in partnership with the government of Kenya and United Kingdom propose to implement a program of re-wilding elephants from a semi captive environment in the UK to a free ranging environment in Kenya. The project involves the unique translocation by air of a herd of 13 African Elephants from Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent, UK to Kenya and re-wilding to a natural savannah ecosystem. The Aspinall Foundation will partner with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) to implement the elephant translocation and rewilding program.

The elephants are currently located in an 8-acre enclosure at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent. The Howletts' elephant herd is one of the most successful breeding herds of elephants in Europe. They comprise two inter-related families and the intent is to re-wild them as one larger herd. Although they are receiving the best care possible in the UK, The Aspinall Foundation believes that these animals need to be reintroduced to the wild despite being bred in captivity.

This will be the first time that elephants have been returned to Africa from Europe to undergo re-wildling programs and its success will inform captive breeding and rehabilitation of African elephants as an endangered species. Under Kenyan Law, all new projects that are likely to affect the environment in any way are required to undertake an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). The ESIA report will be submitted to National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) for review and approval before the project is implemented.

The program will be implemented within the framework of a comprehensive elephant conservation strategy in Kenya envisaged to inspire all levels of society, from rural communities to national and county governments including international partnerships, to act on issues related to elephant conservation, illegal wildlife trade, and wildlife corridors.

Kenya was selected as the destination of choice the translocation due to KWS and SWT, as well as other conservation partners, experience in elephant reintegration, population and management. Kenya has a progressive outlook on conservation and though once the elephant population was decimated due to poaching, KWS and all its Conservation partners have ensured and continual population growth.

The veterinary aspect required in the symposium was to provide information on veterinary interventions carried out in the last ten years within Shimba Hills National Reserve and Mwaluganje Community Conservancy.