Tsavo Mobile Veterinary Unit Report for February 2019

SWT/KWS TSAVO MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT February 2019

Introduction

14 Cases in February

8 Poaching Cases

12 Elephant Cases

February Report by Dr Jeremiah Poghon The month of February witnessed a sharp increase in cases attended to by the unit; most of which were elephant bulls with arrow wounds. This is thought to be associated with attempted poaching events as they mainly target bulls with heavy tusks. There were also two post-mortems conducted on elephant carcasses, one in Tsavo West and one in Tsavo East, both of which succumbed to arrow wounds. In other cases, an elephant bull with a tight wire snare on the left front limb was treated in Tundani area near Ithumba in Tsavo East, an elephant cow that fell into a septic tank in Maungu, Tsavo East was rescued but died during rescue and a lioness was treated for wound fight injuries in Ngutuni conservancy. The team also rescued two elephant calf’s which were taken to the SWT elephant orphanage.

KWS/SWT Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations February 2019

Case Details Date

Species

Area Found

01-Feb-19

Elephant

Tsavo East National Park

Arrow

There was a penetrating wound on the right front limb with swelling and infection.

Prognosis Poor

03-Feb-19

Elephant

Tsavo East National Park

Arrow

A fresh arrow wound on the left thigh with blood oozing out

Successfully Treated

06-Feb-19

Elephant

Tsavo East National Park

Arrow

A typical arrow wound on the left abdominal area with pus oozing out.

Successfully Treated

09-Feb-19

Elephant

Tsavo West National Park

Arrow

A penetrating wound with accompanied haemorrhage was observed on the carcass

Poaching Death

09-Feb-19

Elephant

Tsavo West National Park

Arrow

The Elephant bull had a wound on the right thigh area

Successfully Treated

10-Feb-19

Elephant

Tsavo East National Park

Snared

A tight snare on the left front limb that appears few days old. The wire was so thick our wire cutters were of no use.

Successfully Treated

10-Feb-19

Elephant

Tsavo East National Park

Arrow

Post-mortem revealed a penetrating wound near the groin with dry blood stains.

Poaching Death

12-Feb-19

Lion

Tsavo East National Park

Natural Causes

Multiple penetrating and laceration wounds on the back, pelvic area and the hind limbs

Successfully Treated

13-Feb-19

Elephant

Tsavo East National Park

Natural Causes

It appears that the swelling is from an old injury that healed with overgrowth of tissues

Successfully Treated

Elephant

Tsavo East National Park

HumanWildlife Conflict

A deeply penetrating wound on the right elbow joint. The wound was infected, and a lot of pus oozed out

Taken to Orphanage

Elephant

Tsavo East National Park

HumanWildlife Conflict

Fell into a poorly constructed septic hole near Maungu settlements

HWC Death

17-Feb-19

Hyena

Tsavo West National Park

HumanWildlife Conflict

Fell into a disused underground concrete tank near Man eaters lodge

Task Successful

18-Feb-19

Elephant

Tsavo West National Park

Arrow

An arrow head was pulled out of the wound.

Successfully Treated

21-Feb-19

Elephant

Taita Ranches, Tsavo

Rescue

The veterinary unit rushed to the area to find the calf collapsed and hardly breathing.

Taken to Orphanage

16-Feb-19

17-Feb-19

Reason for Intervention

Outcome

Case 1 – 1st February 2019 Elephant

Arrow Wound

Satao, Tsavo East National Park

A report was received from the Satao camp Manager regarding an elephant bull that was limping badly while drinking water at the camps waterhole. The vet team drove to the camp and found the bull together with others nearby. There was an obvious injury on the right front leg with marked swelling.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The elephant was approached slowly from a vehicle and darted in the rump. He hobbled away in pain, so the vet team trailed him slowly from a distance, until he went down after 7 minutes. The trunk and the ear were positioned correctly to aid in breathing and water splashed on the ears to cool down from the high temperatures currently being experienced in Tsavo.

There was a penetrating wound to the right front limb causing swelling and infection; the joint was also compromised. The wound was flushed with large amounts of normal saline mixed with antiseptics to wash out the pus and tissue debris, then doused with tincture of Iodine, sprayed with Oxytetracycline spray and finally covered with green clay. The elephant was administered with long acting antibiotics and Dexamethasone Hcl. Prognosis Prognosis is guarded due to joint infection.

Case 2 – 3rd February 2019 Elephant

Arrow Wound

Satao, Tsavo East National Park

A report was received from the SWT pilot who had spotted 3 suspected injured elephant bulls near the Satao area of Tsavo East while on aerial patrol. The vet team rushed to the area and found the bull together with others near the Satao camp watering hole. The injury was fresh and oozing blood.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The elephant was approached with a vehicle but ran off and separated from the other bulls. He was followed for several minutes before being darted in the rump. The bull was nervous and kept on running, but finally went down after 8 minutes. He was pushed by hand so that he fell on the correct side.

The elephant bull had a fresh arrow wound to the left thigh. The wound was enlarged and after probing, a sharp arrow head was retrieved from deep inside the muscles. The wound was cleaned with water mixed with Hydrogen peroxide, doused with tincture of Iodine, sprayed with Oxytetracycline spray and covered with green clay. The elephant was administered with long acting antibiotics and Dexamethasone Hcl. Prognosis Prognosis is good.

Case 3 – 6th February 2019 Elephant

Arrow Wound

Satao, Tsavo East National Park

The SWT aerial patrol aircraft reported an injured elephant bull near Satao plains. The bull was in a group of 18 others. The vet team collected their drugs and equipment and drove towards Satao where they arrived an hour later. They easily spotted the injured bull after tracking the GPS points given by the pilot.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment Darting equipment and immobilization drugs were prepared prior to approaching the elephant in a vehicle. He was successfully darted in the rump then trailed slowly from a distance as he moved off with other bulls. He went down after 7 minutes while the rest of the bulls moved away slowly.

The elephant bull had a typical arrow wound to the left abdominal area with pus oozing out. The wound was flushed clean using water mixed with Hydrogen peroxide, doused with tincture of Iodine and sprayed with Oxytetracycline spray. A final cover of green clay was administered to aid in wound healing. The elephant was administered with long acting antibiotics and Dexamethasone Hcl for inflammation. When the anaesthetic was reversed, the bull stood up and walked away slowly.

Prognosis Prognosis is good.

Case 4 – 9th February 2019 Elephant

Post-mortem, Arrow Wound

Kilaguni, Tsavo West National Park

A report was made by the company commander F coy based at Tsavo West National Park that a fresh elephant carcass was spotted beside the Komboyo-Kilaguni road within Tsavo West National Park. The vet unit drove to the area to undertake an autopsy General Examination Initial observation revealed a fresh adult elephant male carcass, approximately less than 24 hours old. The carcass was lying on the left flank near the road and the tusks were intact. Upon examination there was no injury to the right body wall. The carcass was flipped over to expose the left body flank and upon external examination a penetrating wound with accompanied haemorrhage was observed. The skin on the left abdominal wall was carefully removed exposing the subcutaneous tissues and the wound. Abdominal muscles were cut where the penetrating wound entered the peritoneal cavity. The arrow head was finally located having punctured the spleen. The arrow head was covered by darkish substance thought to be Ouabain poison.

Post-mortem Diagnosis The cause of death is from a poisoned arrow shot.

Case 5 – 9th February 2019 Elephant

Arrow Wound

Komboyo, Tsavo West National Park

After the vet team were through with an elephant autopsy, the SWT de-snaring teams reported an elephant bull with a suspected arrow injury. The vet team accompanied by the de-snaring teams rushed to the area and found the bull together with others near Komboyo airstrip camp site.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The elephant was approached from a vehicle and darted in the rump. He ran off, followed by another bull, for a short distance and went down on the injured side. The bull became aggressive and the vet unit had to call for assistance from the de-snaring vehicle that pushed the other bull away. Having fallen on the injured side, the injured bull was rolled over using ropes tied to the vet Landcruiser.

The elephant bull had a wound to the right thigh caused by an arrow. The wound was enlarged so that pus and large chunks of necrotic tissues could be removed. The wound was cleaned using water mixed with Hydrogen peroxide, doused with tincture of Iodine, sprayed with Oxytetracycline spray and then finally covered with green clay. The elephant was administered with long acting antibiotics and an anti – inflammatory.

Prognosis Prognosis is good.

Case 6 – 10th February 2019 Elephant

Snare

Tudani, Tsavo East National Park

During their daily aerial recce the SWT pilot came across an Elephant bull struggling to walk. On closer examination he noticed a huge wire on the left front leg and thought it was still tied onto a tree. The Vet was immediately notified and airlifted by SWT helicopter to the area which is more than 100 kms from Voi.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment Due to thick bush the bull was approached using a helicopter, which pushed the elephant slowly to a nearby road where it was darted. He went down after 7 minutes and the ground team was directed by the SWT helicopter to the immobilized elephant. The vet was dropped on the road and joined the ground team.

There was a tight snare on the left front limb that appeared a few days old. Although it was tight, the damage was not grave. The wire was so thick our wire cutters were of no use but luckily, we were able to unwind the high tensile wire. The wound was cleaned using water mixed with Hydrogen peroxide, sprayed with tincture of Iodine and Oxytetracycline spray. The wound was finally covered with green clay. The elephant was administered with long acting antibiotics and Dexamethasone Hcl. Prognosis Prognosis is good.

Case 7 – 10th February 2019 Elephant

Post-mortem, Arrow Wound

Yatta Plateau, Tsavo East National Park

A report was made by the company commander E coy regarding an elephant carcass spotted along the Yatta plateau within Tsavo East National Park. As there are no roads in the area the vet team was airlifted to the site using a SWT helicopter.

General Examination Initial observation revealed a recent adult elephant male carcass, approximately a week old. The carcass was at an advanced level of decomposition sitting in sternal recumbency and the tusks had been removed by KWS. The front face was eaten away by scavengers. Fluids were flowing from the carcass caused by advanced putrefaction.

On closer external examination a penetrating wound to the right body side near the groin, with dry blood stains around, it was found. The skin around the wound was removed exposing lacerated abdominal wall muscles. The muscles tissues were removed, and a sharp arrow head found.

Post-mortem Diagnosis The cause of death is from a poisoned arrow shot.

Case 8 – 12th February 2019 Lion

Natural Causes

Ngutuni/Tsavo East National Park

Reports was made by several tour drivers regarding a sickly-looking lioness with body injuries that was seen near Voi River between the border of Tsavo East National Park and Ngutuni Sanctuary. The vet unit rushed to the site and found the injured lioness under a bush with obvious body injuries to the back and hind limbs

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The lioness was immobilised using 300mgs of Ketamine and 4 mgs of Meditomidine administered by a 3cc Dan inject dart. The vet successful darted the lioness in the thigh and she went down in 6 minutes. She was quickly moved to the shade and her eyes covered with a towel. The lioness had multiple penetrating and laceration wounds to the back, pelvic area and the hind limbs that were inflicted by other lions. The wounds were flushed with normal saline and crystalline penicillin, doused with tincture of iodine and covered with green clay. High doses of long acting Amoxicillin and Dexamethasone Hcl were also administered. The entire operation took one hour, after which the anaesthetic was reversed. The lioness regained full consciousness after 3 hours. She was supplemented with meat from a buffalo carcass killed and abandoned by other lions nearby.

Prognosis Prognosis is good.

Case 9 – 13th February 2019 Elephant

Natural Causes

Satao, Tsavo East National Park

The SWT aerial patrol reported another injured elephant bull near Satao plains. The bull was in a group of 9 others. The vet team collected their drugs and equipment and drove to Satao, which is about 50 Kms from Voi, and arrived an hour later. The injured elephant bull was located after tracking the GPS points given by the pilot.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The elephant was approached with a vehicle, but he ran off with other bulls. He was tracked and finally darted in the rump. He was trailed from a distance, but he separated from the other bulls and ran off by himself until he went down after 10 minutes. The rest of the bulls moved away slowly.

The elephant bull had a swelling to the left thigh area but with no wound. It appears that the swelling is from an old injury that has healed with overgrowth of tissues. There was no ailment that warranted treatment to be instituted so the anaesthesia was reversed, and the elephant got up and walked away.

Prognosis Prognosis is good as the wound has already healed.

Case 10 – 16th February 2019 Elephant

Human- Wildlife Conflict; Arrow Wound

Emusaya, Tsavo East National Park

A report of an injured elephant calf was received from the Company Commander E coy. The calf was reported to have a swollen leg and could hardly walk.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The teams separated the bigger herd from the injured calf which was successful after several attempts, however, the mother remained with her calf. A decision was made to immobilise both the mother and the calf to avoid separation. The mother was darted first, followed by the calf, and they both went down about 50 metres apart The calf had a deep penetrating wound to the medial aspect of the right elbow joint suspected to be an arrow injury due to human-wildlife conflict. The wound was infected, and a lot of pus oozed out. It was cleaned using water mixed with Hydrogen peroxide, infused with tincture of iodine, sprayed with Oxytetracycline spray and finally covered with green clay. Long acting antibiotics and Dexamethasone was injected IM and IV respectively.

Prognosis The mother and the calf were both revived simultaneously but the mother got up and took off leaving the calf behind. Attempts were made to reunite them in vain. The team was left with no other option but to rescue the calf as it was too small and injured to survive on its own.

Case 11 – 17th February 2019 Elephant

Human-Wildlife Conflict

Maungu, Tsavo East National Park

This elephant cow fell into a poorly constructed septic hole near Maungu settlements in Tsavo East National Park at night and reported the next morning by Wildlife Works Rukinga Rangers who live nearby. The Vet team rushed to the area and found the adult elephant cow squeezed in the small septic hole.

Rescue Attempt The teams and vehicles were mobilized to help pull her out, but she was too heavy. Heavy machinery was then called in but were either too far or just unavailable at the time.

The teams used hoes to dig the side of the pit to create sloppy walls to make it easier to pull out the trapped elephant. Sadly, the elephant succumbed as the teams desperately tried to save her from her anguish.

Death was caused by respiratory insufficiency due to chest compression. An hour later a big tractor arrived, and the carcass was pulled out, into the park and the tusks removed.

Case 12 – 17th February 2019 Hyena

Human-Wildlife Conflict

Man Eaters Lodge, Tsavo East

This hyena fell into a disused underground concrete tank near Man Eaters lodge and was spotted the next morning by the lodge staff. The team rushed in and found the now tired hyena still in the tank. Attempts were made to pull her out without having to immobilise her, but this proved difficult as she became aggressive.

Rescue The hyena was immobilized using 100 mgs of Ketamine mixed with 1 Mg of Meditomidine in a Dan-inject dart.

The vet was able to dart the hyena very easily due to its compromised position and it became fully immobilized after 5 minutes.

She was removed from the tank and treated for self-inflicted wounds with long acting Amoxicillin and an antiinflammatory. After one hour the hyena was administered with 0.5 cc of Atipemazole Hcl reversal drug, placed in a shade and guarded until she fully recovered.

Prognosis Prognosis is good.

Case 13 – 18th February 2019 Elephant

Arrow Wound

Komboyo, Tsavo West National Park

This case was reported by an SWT aerial patrol after the pilot spotted several elephant bulls with what was thought to be arrow wounds.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The elephant was approached on foot and darted in the rump, however, he ran off, followed by the other bulls.

The team gave chase in the vehicle but lost the injured bull as the herd split up making follow up difficult. The SWT plane was called in to assist but after several minutes there was no success. The vet was collected by the pilot and directed the plane. The bull was finally located already immobilised, and the ground teams were directed towards the fallen elephant whilst the vet was dropped at the airstrip and rushed to the area in an awaiting vehicle. The bull had a wound on the left thigh near the groin.

The wound was enlarged so pus and necrotic tissues could be removed. An arrow head was pulled out of the wound. The wound was cleaned using water, Hydrogen peroxide, Iodine then sprayed with Oxytetracycline spray and covered with green clay. The elephant was administered with long acting antibiotics and Dexamethasone.

Prognosis This injury was caused by an arrow; however, prognosis is good following treatment.

Case 14 – 21st February 2019 Elephant

Rescue

Miasenyi, Tsavo East National Park

A report was made by the KWS officer in charge of the Taita Ranches Company of an elephant calf that had collapsed near KMC Miasenyi offices. There were no elephant herds nearby. The veterinary unit rushed to the area to find the calf collapsed and hardly breathing.

Rescue The calf was moved to a shaded area then the vet team splashed water on the body and ears to try and cool the baby elephant down. The calf was extremely dehydrated and weak, so 50 cc of 50 % dextrose was administered by slow IV through the ear vein plus 10 cc of Dexamethasone to combat shock and provide much needed energy.

Parenteral antibiotics cover was also given. After being stabilised an IV infusion of normal saline was started at the SWT field office. The SWT headquarters at Kaluku was alerted and 30 minutes later the SWT helicopter arrived and airlifted the calf to the elephant nursery for better care.

Prognosis Unfortunately, the orphan died the next morning from dehydration and exhaustion

Other activities •

The unit vet testified in 2 cases at Voi law courts where offenders were charged with being in possession of wildlife trophies.

•

Numerous wildlife trophies from Voi (Tsavo East) and Tsavo West National Park were examined; among them Elephant tusks, Pangolin scales and python skin, and expert reports produced to aid in prosecution of offenders.

Acknowledgement •

The unit acknowledges the support of its sponsors ViER PFOTEN through the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) for their huge financial support to the unit. We also thank Kenya Wildlife Service through the Assistant director Tsavo conservation area and the head, veterinary and capture services department for their support.

Report by Dr Jeremiah Poghon