SWT/KWS Rift Valley Veterinary Unit Report February 2026

SWT/KWS RIFT VALLEY MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT

FEBRUARY 2026

7 Cases in February 2026 2 Poaching

Cases

4 HWC Cases

February Report by Dr. Titus Kaitho

Wildlife clinical case interventions were undertaken during the month of February. Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Unit visited the following areas; Soysambu Wildlife conservancy, Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf resort, Green Park, Kenya Nut – Morendat farm, Marula Estates, Lake Naivasha Resort, Manera farm, Lower KALRO, Kigio Wildlife Conservancy among other areas.

The cases attended to have shifted from poaching to increased human-wildlife conflict (HWC) with 2 snaring cases, and 4 HWC cases involving 1 trapped hippo in a roadside trench, relocation of waterbuck and zebra for their safety or for the local community’s safety. One giraffe was also treated for dystocia after the fetus became stuck and died during labour.

Acknowledgement

We sincerely thank 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 2026

Zebra Human-Wildlife Conflict

Great Rift Valley Golf course, Naivasha

Two male zebras had invaded the Great Rift Valley Resort & golf course. The zebras were moved across an electric fence line. This was in mitigation against HWC as the zebras were trampling a valuable golf course.

Immobilisation and relocation

The adult male zebras were darted using 5mg etorphine plus 50mg azaperone. On clinical examination the male zebras had been wounded during territorial fights. The zebras had a high tick burden. One of the zebras suffered minor self-inflicted injury on eye during induction of anaesthesia. We cleaned the wounds using water and rinsed the same using tincture of iodine. A fly repellent (Alamycin® Aerosol) was applied. We also administered the following;

• Noromectin (Ivermectin) 5mL by SQ route

• Flumeg (Flunixin Meglumine 5%) 250 mg by IM route

• Catasol40 mL by IM route

• Ectopor® SA020 (Novartis RSA) (Cypermethrin (high cis)20g/l

The zebras were darted one a time. The zebras were transported on tractor trailer across an electric fence line while under general anaesthesia. The anaesthetic was reversed and both zebras were released on the Green Park Estate. Prognosis is good.

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Waterbuck Human-Wildlife Conflict

Sopa Lodge, Naivasha

This case was reported by Naivasha Sopa Lodge security staff. The waterbuck was allegedly reported to have knocked down two people (a tour driver & lodge staffer).

Immobilisation and relocation

The waterbuck was darted using 6mg Etorphine plus 50mg Azaperone.

The waterbuck was transported under general anaesthesia on a pickup truck and safely released at WRTI Wildlife Sanctuary. The rogue waterbuck was a real threat to staff and visitors.

We administered the following;

• Noromectin 1% w/v (Ivermectin) 8mL by SQ route

• Catasol 40 mL by IM route

We reversed the waterbuck from anaesthesia using 50mg of Naltrexone given by IV route and ¼ of the dose by IM route at the release site.

The exercise was a success.

Case 3 – 20th February 2026

Buffalo Snared Soysambu Conservancy

The buffalo was darted using 9mg Etorphine plus 60mg Azaperone.

On examination the buffalo had been snared by a wire snare that had brutally wounded left hind leg. The wound was infected and maggots infested. We cleaned the bleeding wound using water and rinsed the same using tincture of Iodine. A fly repellent (Alamycin Aerosol) was applied. We also administered 15,000mg Damok (Amoxicillin), 500mg Flumeg and 10ml Noromectin. Prognosis is good.

Case 4 – 20th February 2026

Zebra Snared Soysambu Conservancy

The zebra was darted using 5mg Etorphine plus 60mg Azaperone.

On examination the zebra had been snared and wounded by a long wire snare on the right hind leg. We cleaned the wound using water and rinsed the same using tincture of Iodine. A fly repellent (Alamycin® Aerosol) was also applied. We administered the zebra with 9,000mg Damox (Amoxicillin), 300mg Flumeg, 5ml Noromectin and 40ml Catasol.

Prognosis is good.

Case 5 – 22nd February 2026

Hippo

Human-Wildlife Conflict

This case was reported by Lake Naivasha Resort Security staff

Rescue

The hippopotamus had slipped and fell into a deep open trench on the roadside of Moi South Lake Road.

After assessment we made a common plan of evacuation of the hippopotamus during nighttime. This was heavily informed by the security of a large crowd of bystanders. A cooling system was put into place where the hippopotamus was liberally doused with water. The hippopotamus was also fed with vegetable leftovers provided by the Resort. The site remained guarded the whole day by KWS security staff.

At sunset we used straw & stones to make stairs. At around 21:00hrs nighttime the hippopotamus climbed the stairs and majestically walked across Moi South Road to a desired grazing area in the heavily built environment.

Prognosis

Prognosis is good and we are very thankful to Marula Estates for donating the bails of straw and KWS for providing security and assistance.

Lake Naivasha Resort

Giraffe Natural Causes

This case was reported by Soysambu Conservancy Security Staff

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

Soysambu Conservancy

The giraffe was darted using 14mg Etorphine plus 60mg Azaperone.

On examination the female giraffe had suffered a dystocia. We performed a standard obstetric examination using lots of lubricant – liquid paraffin. The foetus was dead on anterior presentation with flexion of the long neck backwards at the vulva. The dead foetus had a flexed neck and butted on the vulva. We aligned the foetus and skilfully expelled it by alternating pulling & retropulsion of the limbs. We cleaned the birth canal by lavage with dilute Iodine solution. Oxytetracycline pessaries, 4 pieces (1,000mg) were inserted in utero. We also administered 15,000mg Damox (Amoxicillin), 1,000mg Flumeg, 10ml Noromectin and 80ml Butasal

Prognosis

We reversed the giraffe from anaesthesia using 250mg of Naltrexone given by IV and ¼ of the dose by IM route. Prognosis is good.

Case 7 – 22nd February 2026

Zebra Human-Wildlife Conflict Kigio Wildlife Conservancy, Naivasha

Several reports by Warden Kigio Wildlife Conservancy of HWC associated zebras have been received by Kenya Wildlife Service. Zebras have been snared and killed by community neighboring Kigio Wildlife conservancy. These zebras have raided farms and destroyed valuable crops. Farmers have retaliated by snaring and killing zebras. To mitigate HWC, KWS management approved translocation of these zebras into Kigio Wildlife Conservancy. Kigio Wildlife Conservancy is fenced off with electric fence on the community front and river Malewa acting as natural barrier on the Northern part of the Conservancy. Zebras have also migrated from others areas and are now trapped in the Naivasha – Nakuru High way. These zebras are at risk of being killed by fast moving vehicles. They also pose danger to motorists as they can easily cause serious accidents as they attempt to cross the busy highway and the railway line.

Relocation

Zebras were approached by a vehicle and darted using a combination of Etorphine and Azaperone in single dart. Drug dosages were varied according to age and body weight. Individual zebras were promptly recovered and loaded onto a pick-up truck and transported under general anaesthesia from the community crop land across electric fence into Kigio Wildlife Conservancy. The distance of movement was less than 2Km on the community land. Zebras captured in the Naivasha – Nakuru Highway were loaded in a KWS custom-built container and transported to the coast.