SWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Veterinary Report for August 2020

SWT/KWS TSAVO MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT AUGUST 2020

Introduction

10 Cases in August

4 Snaring Cases

4 Elephant Cases

August Report by Dr. Jeremiah Poghon During August, the Tsavo Vet Unit attended to various cases spread throughout the vast ecosystem. Many of the cases were caused by snaring and natural causes. The Unit attended to snaring of a Hyena near Voi town and snared zebras in Lamu and Mgeno ranch. A former elephant orphan was treated for lion attack injuries, but succumbed at a later date. Seven elephant bulls were translocated from Ngulia Rhino sanctuary, Tsavo West National Park. An elephant orphan was rescued from Lualenyi ranch, Tsavo while autopsies were performed on an elephant bull and a giraffe in Tsavo West and Borabora Conservancy respectively.

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 services department.

Case Details Date

Species

Area Found

13-Aug-20

Hyena

Sagalla, Tsavo East

Snared

Had a tight wire snare around the neck and could barely breathe

Poaching Death

18-Aug-20

Elephant

Tsavo East NP

Natural Causes

An injured orphan who had been released recently to the wild was attacked by lions

Died

22-Aug-20

Zebra

Kipini, North Coast

Snared

The wire snare was removed and the neck injuries treated

Successfully Treated

22-Aug-20

Zebra

Kipini, North Coast

Snared

The wire snare was removed and neck injuries treated

Successfully Treated

24-Aug-20

Zebra

Mgeno Ranch, Taita

Snared

A zebra was snared onto a tree and struggling to free himself

Poaching Death

24-Aug-20

Buffalo

Tsavo East NP

Postmortem

A buffalo was struggling to give birth but already succumbed when the team arrived

Died

24-Aug-20

Elephant

Lualenyi Ranch, Taita

Rescue

An elephant calf had collapsed near the Ranch offices and required rescue

Taken to Orphanage

26-Aug-20

Elephant

IPZ, Tsavo West NP

Relocation

An elephant population inside Ngulia Rhino sanctuary increased in number and began breaking the infrastructure

Task Successful

29-Aug-20

Giraffe

Borabora, Kwale

Postmortem

The giraffe lost condition over time despite supplementation and died

Died

Elephant

IPZ, Tsavo West NP

Postmortem

A fresh elephant carcass was near the release site of the just released elephant bulls

Died

30-Aug-20

Reason for Intervention

Outcome

SWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations August 2020

Case 1 – 13th August 2020 Hyena

Snared

Sagalla, Tsavo East National Park

The report of a snared hyena was received from Community Members after the animal collapsed near their village.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The vet team rushed to the village to find the hyena collapsed and unable to stand. Examination revealed a tight wire snare around the neck and it could barely breathe.

The hyena was physically restrained and the wire snare removed. The wounds were treated with tincture of Iodine and Oxytetracycline spray.

Prognosis Treatment was successful and the animal was moved to the park for further treatment and care but sadly succumbed 3 days later

Case 2 – 18th August 2020 Elephant

Natural Causes

Tsavo East National Park

The report was made by SWT Voi stockade staff of an injured orphan who had been released recently to the wild. The elephant was attacked by lions which had inflicted numerous bite and scratch wounds on the perineum and the body. He was brought to the Voi Stocakde and put in a boma for treatment.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The elephant was darted with 8mg Etorphine and went down after 5 minutes. He was put on lateral recumbency and upon examination an abdominal distension was observed due to possible intestinal blockage. The rectum was emptied manually and the obstruction removed.

The wounds were cleaned with antimicrobials and sprayed with Oxytetracycline spray. The elephant was also administered long acting antibiotics and inflammatory drugs.

Prognosis The elephant was given a guarded prognosis and the anaesthesia reversed with Diprenorphine at 2 times the Etorphine dose. The elephant succumbed a week later due to colon impaction complications.

Case 3 & 4 – 22nd August 2020 Zebra

Snared

Kipini Conservancy, North Coast

Snaring of wildlife has become an increasingly common problem within the Kipini Conservancy in Lamu.

There was a case of a snared zebra and the snare was removed but two weeks later 3 zebras were reported snared in the same Conservancy. Due to the long distance and the insecurity in the region the vet was airlifted by KWS to the area to treat and de-snare two of the zebras.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment Both of the zebras were approached with a vehicle and darted in the rump with 7mgs of Etorphine and 60gs Xylazine. Both went down in approximately 7 minutes and were quickly secured, placed in a sternal position and a blindfold put over the eyes. One of the animals fell in a swampy area hence she was quickly retrieved and treated. The wire snare was removed and the neck injuries treated with Oxytetracycline spray.

Prognosis The anaesthesia was reversed with Diprenorphine at 3 times the Etorphine dose and Atipemazole Hcl. Due to minimal injuries, both zebras are expected to make a full recovery.

Case 5– 24th August 2020 Zebra

Snared

Mgeno Ranch, Taita

Rukinga Rangers from Wildlife Works reported that they came across a zebra that was snared on a tree and was struggling to free himself.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment A dart was prepared and filled with 7mgs of Etorphine and 60mgs Xylazine. The zebra was approached on foot and darted in the rump. He went down after 7 minutes and was quickly secured, placed in a sternal position and a blindfold put over the eyes.

The wire snare was removed and the leg injuries treated with Oxytetracycline spray. Parenteral antibiotics and anti-inflammatories were also administered.

Prognosis The anaesthesia was reversed with Diprenorphine at 3 times the Etorphine dose and Atipemazole Hcl. The zebra could not stand up due to a torn ligament and had to be euthanized due to animal welfare concerns.

Case 6 – 24th August 2020 Buffalo

Post-mortem

Tsavo East National Park

Sentrim Lodge attendants reported a buffalo that was struggling to give birth.

Post-mortem examination When the vet team arrived in the area the young cow had already succumbed.

The foetal limbs were protruding from the vaginal opening. The dead foetus was pulled out and the cause of dystocia was determined to be foetal mal-disposition by lateral deviation of the head and neck.

Cause of Death Cause of death was dystocia caused by poor foetal presentation.

Case 7 – 24th August 2020 Elephant

Rescue

Lualenyi Ranch, Tsavo

A report was received from the manager of Lualenyi Ranch regarding an elephant calf that had collapsed near the Ranch offices. He feared that the calf would be eaten by hyenas if not rescued.

Rescue The Vet Team sent the nearby SWT de-snaring team to check out the calf’s condition. The calf was found weak and couldn’t stand up prompting an emergency rescue operation to be initiated.

The calf was rescued and taken to the Voi SWT Stockade. It was stabilized by IV infusion of Dextrose, Ringers lactate and normal saline. He was also administered with Dexamethasone and long acting antibiotics.

The treatment continued the next day and the calf deemed stable enough to be airlifted to the SWT orphanage in Nairobi.

Case 8 – 26th August 2020 Elephant

Relocation

IPZ, Tsavo West National Park

The remnant elephant population that was left inside Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary and other elephants who broke into the sanctuary, increased in number and began breaking the infrastructure put in the sanctuary to supply water to the rhinos and also sanctuary staff. The elephants, particularly notorious bulls, were earmarked for translocation out of the Sanctuary to reduce the damage to the sanctuary facilities. The entire operation took two days.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The first bull was darted with 18mgs of Etorphine but the dosage was upped to 20mgs for the other bulls after the initial dose didn’t work well. 40mgs of Azaperone was added into the darts to stabilise the blood pressure. The elephants were darted from a helicopter and pushed to areas easily accessed by ground teams, then loaded into open trucks on lateral recumbency and transported out of the Sanctuary.

Prognosis They were then placed on the ground and the anaesthesia reversed before the elephants were left to walk away. Water was splashed on the body and ears to keep them cool. The journey took between 1 and 3 hours depending on the route taken.

Case 9 – 29th August 2020 Giraffe

Post-mortem

Borabora Conservancy, Kwale

Borabora Conservancy reported a giraffe carcass and requested the Vet Unit to attend and determine cause of death.

Post-mortem examination The female giraffe had lost condition over time despite supplementation with concentrates. She died on the 29th of August.

The autopsy revealed impaction/ chronic blockage of the rectum. Organs were pale, trachea was mucoid and peritoneal fluid yellowish in colour.

Cause of Death Cause of death was impaction.

Case 10 – 30th August 2020 Elephant

Post-mortem

IPZ, 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 near the release site of the recently released elephant bulls translocated from the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary.

Post-mortem examination The vet team visited the area and found a large dead elephant bull that was the second bull translocated during the relocation exercise.

Cause of Death An autopsy was performed and the cause of death found to be colon torsion near Colo-rectal junction and subsequent impaction.

Other Activities •

The unit analysed 15 elephant tusks and produced 2 expert reports to aid in prosecution of offenders.

•

The Vet testified at Shanzu law courts, Mombasa in a case where the offenders were charged with being in possession of wildlife trophies.