SWT/KWS Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Report for February 2025
SWT/KWS RIFT VALLEY MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT
FEBRUARY 2025
February Report by Dr. Titus Kaitho
Six wildlife clinical case interventions were undertaken during the month of February. Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Unit visited the following areas: Lentolia Wildlife Conservancy, Hells Gate NP, Kedong ranch –Serenity homes, Kijabe farm, Muthu Lake Naivasha Country Club, Game farm - WRTI, Manera farm, Green Park, Cresent Island among other areas. The Unit attended to 4 snared animals (2 zebras and 2 giraffes), rescued and relocated a zebra that was trapped within a fenced area and conducted a post-mortem on a zebra foal with a heavy tick burden.
Acknowledgement
We sincerely thank the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) for support, resources & sponsorship of the Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Unit. Chief Executive Officer SWT, Angela Sheldrick, we acknowledge your unwavering support and interest in the work undertaken by the Mobile Veterinary Unit. Kenya Wildlife Service is acknowledged for general operational & leadership support. Wildlife Research & Training Institute (WRTI) supported the activities by hosting staff at WRTI. We sincerely thank all stakeholders and scouts and all who reported wildlife cases in distress. Thank you all.
Case Details
SWT/KWS Rift Valley Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations
February 2025
Case
Giraffe Snared
This case was reported by Lentolia Wildlife Sanctuary security staff
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This young giraffe was darted using 6mg Etorphine plus 50mg Azaperone.
Lentolia Conservancy
On examination the female giraffe had had suffered a complete open fracture of the right hind leg. The ghastly wound was haemorrhagic, and some areas were gangrenous. This happened when the female giraffe had been trapped by wire snares. On thorough examination, there were scratch wounds caused by the wire snare on the chest and front legs.
Prognosis
Prognosis of this case was poor. The giraffe was put to rest to alleviate further suffering.
Zebra
Human-wildlife conflict
Kedong Ranch
This zebra was in an isolated fenced parcel of land with no water at Kedong ranch. The lone zebra was at high risk of dying from extreme dehydration. The zebra had failed to vacate the plot when it was fenced. Kenya Wildlife Service Naivasha PAC team assisted in this necessary translocation activity.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The female zebra was darted using 5mg Etorphine plus 80mg Azaperone.
The zebra was manually loaded into a pick - up and translocated under general anaesthesia to Hells Gate NP.
Reversal and prognosis
The zebra was reversed from general anaesthesia at the release site using 75mg Naltrexone given via IV and ¼ of the dose administered by intramuscular route to avoid narcotization. The zebra was released safely at a water point. The translocation activity was a success. .
Case 3 – 13th February 2025
Zebra Postmortem WRTI, Naivasha
This report describes a postmortem examination of one male common zebra foal at WRTI – Game farm after it was reported by the KWS security team. The carcass had been moved by rangers away from the water trough area.
Postmortem examination
The zebra carcass was lying on right lateral recumbency, it was bloated as it was decomposing quickly The carcass had very pale mucous membranes (eyelids and gums) and was heavily infested with ticks even though the body condition was good (body condition score of 4 out of 5).
Internal examination revealed the carcass was very pale in general, the heart was enlarged (cardiomegaly) and there was increased fluid in the chest cavity (hydrothorax).
Cause of death
The cause of death of this male zebra foal was severe anaemia due to heavy tick burden
This case was reported by the Kijabe farm neighbor - Elizabeth Shepherd
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The giraffe was darted using 14mg Etorphine Hcl combined with 80mg Azaperone.
On examination the giraffe had been snared by a wire on the left hind leg. The giraffe fortunately had suffered only skin lacerations. We promptly retrieved the wire snare.
Reversal and prognosis
The giraffe was quickly reversed from general anaesthesia once it was roped down. The giraffe was administered 250mg of Naltrexone by IV route rapidly and then restrained manually by pinning the long neck down. Once the snare was removed, it was released with a good prognosis.
Giraffe Snared
Lake Naivasha Country Club
This case was reported by Green Park Security staff
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The zebra was darted using 5mg Etorphine Hcl plus 80mg Azaperone.
On examination the zebra had been snared by a long wire on the neck. Fortunately, the zebra had no injury, so the snare was quickly removed, and the anaesthetic reversed.
Reversal and prognosis
We reversed the zebra from anaesthesia using 75mg of Naltrexone given by IM and IV route. The zebra has a good prognosis as the snare did not cause any injuries.
Zebra Snared
Green Park, Naivasha
Case
This case was reported by KWS/SWT Anti-poaching Unit.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The zebra was darted with 5mg Etorphine Hcl combined with 80mg Azaperone.
On examination the zebra had been snared and wounded by a winch wire. The wound was suppurative, infected and bleeding. The septic wound was cleaned with water and rinsed with tincture of Iodine. A fly repellent (Alamycin® Aerosol) was applied.
The zebra was also given 12,000mg Betamox, 300mg Flumeg and 40ml Butasol by IM route and 5ml Noromectin by SQ route.
Reversal and prognosis
The anaesthetic was reversed with 75mg of Naltrexone given by IM and IV route. The zebra has a good prognosis after treatment.
