SWT/KWS Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Report for January 2025
SWT/KWS AMBOSELI MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT
JANUARY 2025
Introduction
10 Cases in January
January Report by Dr.
Kariuki Edward
4 Poaching Cases 6 Elephant Cases
The Southern Conservation Area and more importantly the Amboseli Ecosystem experienced a warm and dry period in January 2025. Ten cases were attended to and involved the elephant, lion and the giraffe. Of the cases, 5 were related to poaching, there were also two human-wildlife conflict cases where a problem lion and elephant had to be relocated.
Acknowledgement
We thank Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) for material support and Mobile Unit funding. KWS Staff and BLF rangers and others not mentioned but supported the monitoring of distressed wildlife in areas of interest are highly acknowledged and appreciated.
Case Details
3-Jan-25
11-Jan-25
15-Jan-25
15-Jan-25
23-Jan-25
25-Jan-25
Taita Ranches
Postmortem revealed a penetrating wound on the back likely to be a spear injury Poaching Death
January 2025
Case
Elephant Spear Lumo Conservancy, Taita
An elephant cow was found dead in Lumo Conservancy and reported to AMVU on 3rd January 2025. The AMVU team travelled to the site and conducted a postmortem examination.
Postmortem examination
The elephant cow was located near a community water hole in Lumo Conservancy. It had a penetrating wound on the back and by nature of its appearance, it was suspected to have been a spear injury.
To establish the extent of the injury, a cut was made along the wound and extended into the body. The cut penetrated the pelvic cavity, severing important blood vessels. Plenty of blood was traced in the pelvic cavity and abdominal cavity.
Cause of death
The cause of death was shock following severe bleeding. It is suspected that a spear caused the injury.
Elephant Human-wildlife conflict
Nyango, Kwale County
KWS management at Shimba Hills National Park reported an elephant bull that had killed a person and injured others in Nyango, Kinango, Kwale County.
Examination and Relocation
A fixed wing aircraft was used to trace the elephant, while a helicopter assisted in the darting of the elephant. The elephant was located in a thick forest and pushed to an area close to the road to allow loading into the truck. The elephant was forced to an open area and darted with 20mg Etorphine then the helicopter attempted to keep it close to the road.
The elephant had no wounds or any visible physical anomalies. The bull was lifted using a crane and loaded into the transport vehicle. The elephant was transported under sedation and arrived at Shimba Hills National Park with no complications. Due to the distance, the anaesthetic was topped with 5mg Etorphine to reduce trunk mobility.
The elephant was revived using Naltrexone (an antagonist for the immobilisation drug) and favourably woke up after drug administration. The elephant seemed disoriented and moved into the nearby bush and towards the grassland before moving away from the release site.
Human-wildlife conflict
Mbololo, Tsavo East
The Assistant Director in charge of the Ecommunity in Voi reported a lion named Brutus to AMVU. The lion had a history of being a habitual livestock predator in the Mbololo area. The lion had a collar and was recently moved from Laikipia due to similar problems with livestock and hence had been identified as a threat. A helicopter assisted in locating the lion using its collar signals. The lion was located in the park and was accessed without difficulty.
Examination and Relocation
The lion was pushed to an open area and darted with a combination of 300mg of Ketamine HCl and Medetomidine. The lion was fully immobilised in 20 minutes.
The lion was found in good body condition and had no external injuries. Amoxicillin injection was applied to cover for bacterial infection.
The lion was put into a cage and transported into the interior of the park. The lion was revived using Atipamezole (an antagonist for the Medetomidine) and favourably woke up after drug administration. The lion was released inside the park in an area away from the herding communities of Mbololo.
Case
Elephant
Human-wildlife conflict
Lake Jipe, Tsavo West
The Unit received reports of an injured elephant near Lake Jipe. The team quickly mobilized and flew to the area Unfortunately, the bull swam into the lake on approach which must have been soothing to his foot but made it too dangerous to anaesthetize him. Over the coming days, the aerial units spent many hours searching for the bull and finally a week later he was seen again and the Vet Unit quickly airlifted to the area.
Examination and Relocation
Once the team were in the vicinity, the helicopter pushed the elephant onto solid ground, and the vet darted the bull with 18mg Etorphine. Examination revealed that the bull had a deep, penetrating wound near his front ankle. He was originally spotted near a town, which indicates that he had been arrowed or speared during a human-wildlife conflict incident. The wound had become badly infected and was at risk of compromising the ankle. The team cleaned the wound with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine, packed it with green clay and sprayed it with antibiotic spray. The bull was also administered 30,000mg Oxytetracycline and 50mg Dexamethasone.
Prognosis
Given the severity of the injury, re-treatment may be necessary, and he will be monitored, however his prognosis is good
KWS management at Mokowe Station reported a leopard caught in a snare in NYS camp at Bargoni area. The leopard had been observed for a day and would not move even when provoked, which led to the discovery of the snare.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The leopard was successfully immobilized using a combination of 150mg Ketamine HCl and 4mg Medetomidine. The leopard attained full immobilisation in 15 minutes.
The leopard was found in good body condition but had one foot caught in a snare. The right forefoot was normal, but the left forefoot was digit-less due to an old cut on the paw. An Amoxicillin injection was applied to cover the bacterial infection. The leopard was treated with 10ml Amoxicillin and revived using Atipamezole (an antagonist for the Medetomidine). It favourably woke up after drug administration.
Prognosis
The leopard was released at the same spot because the area was composed of thick bushes and away from local communities.
Leopard Snare
Lamu, North Coast
Case 6 – 20th January 2025
Elephant Post-mortem
Tsavo West National Park
An elephant cow was found dead in Tsavo West and reported to AMVU on 20th January 2025. The AMVU team travelled to the site and conducted a postmortem examination.
Postmortem examination
The elephant cow was located in a thicket near the road to Ngulia hills. It had blood-tinged exudate from the trunk but not from any other orifice. The carcass was maximally bloated and had no external injuries.
Prognosis
The leopard was released at the same spot because the area was composed of thick bushes and away from local communities.
Case
Elephant
A male elephant was found lame and reported to AMVU. The vet team travelled to site and immobilized the bull for examination and treatment
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The elephant was successfully immobilised using 20mg of Etorphine HCl. The elephant was fully immobilised in 8 minutes.
The elephant had an old and rusty snare cable. The cable was removed by cutting and pulling. The wound had maggots and a lot of dead tissue. The wound was cleaned and irrigated with iodine.
Prognosis
The elephant was revived using Naltrexone (an antagonist for the immobilisation drug) and favourably woke up shortly after drug administration. The elephant moved into the nearby area and could not be traced again
Snare
Umani, Kibwezi Forest
Elephant Arrow
Triangle, Tsavo East
SWT reported an injured elephant to AMVU. A helicopter assisted in darting the elephant, which was located in a Comiphora bush but easily accessed.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The elephant was successfully immobilised using 20mg of Etorphine HCl.
The elephant suffered an abdominal injury that was filled with pus. A metal detector was used to trace for metal remains in the wound, but none was found. The wound was irrigated with iodine solution. Amoxicillin injection and Oxytetracycline spray were applied to cover for bacterial infection.
Prognosis
The elephant was revived using Naltrexone (an antagonist for the immobilisation drug) and favourably woke up after drug administration. Prognosis is good.
Giraffe Natural Causes Diani, South Coase
The sickly giraffe was reported to the AMVU, and the Unit went to assess the giraffes condition.
Examination
The giraffe was not darted but was lured with feeding bushes to the visitors' viewing board, The giraffe was examined visually across the viewing board.
The giraffe looked emaciated and lethargic. He was to fragile to handle and could not be immobilised.
Prognosis
Prognosis is poor as the giraffe was already too weak to risk anaesthetising so a proper assessment and treatment could not be carried out.
Lion
Natural Causes
A tour driver in Amboseli reported a lion that was found injured. The lion had no known history but was found with a skin tear on the lateral side near the hind leg.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The lion was found in good body condition and had two external injuries. Amoxicillin injection was applied to cover for bacterial infection. Iodine and topical Oxytetracycline spray were also applied directly to the wound.
Prognosis
The lion was revived using Atipamezole (an antagonist for the medetomidine) and favourably woke up after drug administration. Prognosis is good.
