Case 2 – 13th April 2025
White rhino Technical Case
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Southern White Rhino Sterility Examination, Relocation and Breeding Soundness Examination on New Southern White Females, And Ovum Pick-Up Exercise (OPU) on Fatu between 13th and 15th April 2025
Immobilisation and procedure
Jomo was given the sedative drugs by dart delivered via a helicopter Using three darts containing doses of Medetomidine, Butorphanol and Ketamine. After proper assessment the rhino was electoejaculated and 3 portions of ejaculate successfully collected. However, he was confirmed sterile.
Amaze was immobilized via helicopter with a dart comprising of 5mg Etorphine and 80mg Azaperone.
Ultrasound revealed a normal healthy uterus lining. She had small follicles within the ovaries indicating that she was almost ovulating. She was loaded into the crate, transported and released into a smaller boma.
Asali was immobilized via a dart delivered via helicopter comprising of 5mg Etorphine and 80mg Azaperone.
Ultrasound revealed air in the vagina and a normal healthy uterus lining. The left ovary had a large preovulatory follicle that would be prime within 36 – 48 hrs. She should be under close monitoring for possible mating soon. She was loaded into the crate, transported and released into a smaller boma.
Tauwo was sedated via blow dart to separate her from Fatu to carry out her OPU. Fatu was also given the delivered via blow pipe. A total of 12 oocytes were collected processed and stored for transport to Italy.
Case 4– 15th April 2025
Buffalo Relocation
Mt Kenya Wildlife Conservancy
This is a report for the translocation exercise of two buffaloes from Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy to Tundra Conservancy on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
Relocation
Debra and Githae have been resident buffaloes at the MKWC for seven years. They were rescued by members of the Rumuruti community and arrived at the facility scared and uncertain. With time, compassion and dedicated care they healed and blossomed. The male was darted with 8mg Etorphine and 80mg Azaperone then topped up with 2mg Etorphine. The female was darted with 6mg Etorphine and 80mg Azaperone, then also topped up with 2mg Etorphine.
The buffaloes were smoothly released from their boma while being lured by some pellets on the ground when they were darted at the hindquarter deep IM. The induction time was 4 minutes for each, after which they were approached, blindfolded, and darts retrieved.
The buffaloes were safely put into a transportation container and the immobilization drugs reversed using 200mg of Naltrexone intramuscularly for each of them. They were then transported via road to Tundra conservancy where they were offloaded at around 1900hrs.
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Black rhino Natural Causes
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
The rhino had been reported by the monitoring team to be having wounds on the body and called for attention for close evaluation and treatment.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The rhino was darted from a helicopter. Two initial darts failed to give the desired immobilization effect after landing on subcutaneous tissue of the left flank, and the second dart burst, spilling the drug on the surface of the skin.
The rhino was found to have a fair body condition. Body condition score of 3/5. The rhino was found with superficial laceration wounds, possibly from fights with hostile rhinos, on the right flank and the lower perineal area. There were generalized filarial worm wounds on the right and left flanks and the back. A treatment was indicated to cover for secondary bacterial infection from the superficial wounds and to boost metabolic activities on the animal. The rhino was given 15,000mg Amoxicillin, 12,000mg Phenlybutazone, 6,000mg Butaphosphan and 3,000mg Vitamin B12. Alamycin spray was applied topically on the wounds.
Prognosis
The wounds were found to superficial and non-life threatening, so the rhino has a good prognosis.
Giraffe Relocation
Solio Game Reserve/Lolmarik Conservancy
The exercise involved relocating 5 giraffes from Solio Ranch Conservancy to Tundra Conservancy, and 2 giraffes from Lolmarik Conservancy to Kambi Msituni Conservancy. The relocation aims to repopulate underutilized habitats, ensuring long-term survival of species and reducing pressure on overpopulated areas.
Relocation
The giraffes were darted with Etorphine and Azaperone with the dosages varying depending on size and weight of the animal. The induction for the immobilization was smooth and ranged between 6-9 minutes.
The giraffes were safely secured and trapped to the ground using ropes; reversed, blindfolded, fixed with ropes for loading into a transportation container on a tractor. The tractor moved the animal into the canter for transportation. The animals were transported in pairs, apart from the last female.
The capture and translocation exercise of the giraffes was successfully carried out, ensuring safe immobilization, handling, loading, transportation and off-loading of the giraffes at their new habitats. .
Buffalo Relocation
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
The veterinary and capture team spearheaded a rewilding exercise of buffaloes. A total of 12 buffaloes were captured, comprising of nine subadult females and three subadult males at Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Relocation
The buffalos were darted with Etorphine and Azaperone or Ketamine with the dosages varying depending on size and weight of the animal. The induction for the immobilization was smooth and ranged between 6-9 minutes. The induction time for the buffaloes ranged between 7 to 10 minutes and was smooth. A few of the individuals were found to be light in anaesthesia and necessitated top-ups with Ketamine alone and one was topped up with a combination of Ketamine and Etorphine.
The buffaloes were secured and loaded into the transportation crate on the lorry; they were loaded three at a time, and some in just a pair, after which they were reversed and locked in the crates. The first group to be translocated had five buffaloes, and the second group had seven individuals.
They were transported by road to Tundra Conservancy, where they were released into the wild. The capture and translocation were successfully executed with no harm to the animals or personnel.
Zebra
Human-Wildlife Conflict
Laikipia National Park
This brief report describes the rescue operation of two zebras that fell into a pit at Laikipia National Park
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The zebras were discovered and reported to have strayed and fell into an open pit, about 13 feet, by the Laikipia National Park rangers. The pit is still under construction. The zebras were found to be alive and standing inside the pit. The zebras were darted with 6mg Etorphine and 60mg Azaperone. Two darts bounced off the female zebra, a third dart was successfully placed on the right rump of the female.
The individual zebras were fixed with slings and ropes, one through the chest and the second one through the inguinal and pulled out with the help of a cruiser. The animals were reversed individually, of the immobilization drug and resuscitated by chest compressions and released back into the wild. After reversal, the male zebra walked off with moderate ataxia and muscle tremors.
Prognosis
The zebras were successfully rescued, and the pit was sealed off with more wooden and metallic bars to avoid the same incident happening
