MARCH 2025
13 Cases in March 10 Poaching Cases
March Report by Dr. Titus Kaitho
13 Wildlife clinical case interventions were undertaken during the month of March, the majority of which were poaching injuries. Fortunately, there were no deaths and only 1 guarded prognosis given to an elephant with a bullet wound. The Vet Unit visited the following areas; Olerai Wildlife Conservancy, Nairobi NP, Lake Naivasha, Color crops, Tsavo West NP, Olkinyei Conservancy, Masai Mara NR, WRTI – Annex, Oserian Development Co Ltd, Soysambu Wildlife Conservancy, Marula Estates among other areas.
Acknowledgement
We sincerely thank Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) for support, resources & sponsorship of the Rift Valley 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
5-Mar-25
5-Mar-25
6-Mar-25 Zebra Naivasha Natural Causes The zebra had been wounded on right front leg
Treated
9-Mar-25 Rhino Black Nairobi NP HWC A black rhinoceros had strayed away from Nairobi NP into a community area Task Successful
14-Mar-25 Elephant Olkinyei Conservancy Bullet Wound Suffered four (4) communicating suppurative gunshot wounds on left hind leg Prognosis Poor
14-Mar-25 Lion Masai Mara NR Natural Causes Wounded on left front leg by bites from other lions or injury from prey Successfully Treated
15-Mar-25 Zebra Naivasha Snared The zebra had been snared by a long wire on the neck Successfully Treated
20-Mar-25 Zebra Oserian Snared The zebra had been snared by a long nylon rope on the neck Successfully Treated
21-Mar-25 Zebra Soysambu Conservancy Snared The zebra had been snared and wounded by a wire on left hind leg Successfully Treated
25-Mar-25 Zebra Naivasha Snared The zebra had been snared and wounded by a wire on right front leg Successfully Treated
25-Mar-25 Zebra Naivasha Snared The zebra had been snared and wounded by a nylon rope on the left hind leg Successfully Treated
25-Mar-25 Zebra Naivasha Snared On examination the zebra had been snared but fortunately the wire had self - released Successfully Treated
27-Mar-25 Giraffe Naivasha Snared The giraffe had been snared by a winch wire left front leg. Successfully Treated
SWT/KWS Rift Valley Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations
March 2025
Case
Buffalo Snared
This case was reported by Olerai Wildlife Conservancy Manager
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This buffalo was darted using 9mg Etorphine plus 80mg Azaperone.
Olerai Wildlife Conservancy
On examination the male buffalo had been snared by a long wire on the neck. Fortunately, the buffalo suffered only minor lacerations on the neck.
Reversal and prognosis
We reversed the buffalo from general anaesthesia by IV route administration of 250mg of Naltrexone and ¼ of the dose by IM route to avoid narcotization.
Prognosis for full recovery is good.
Buffalo Snared
This case was reported by Olerai Wildlife Conservancy Manager
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
Olerai Wildlife Conservancy
This buffalo was darted using 9mg Etorphine plus 80mg Azaperone.
On examination the male buffalo had been snared and wounded by a winch wire on left hind leg. The wound was suppurative, infected and bleeding. We cleaned the septic wound using water and rinsed the same using tincture of Iodine. A fly repellent (Alamycin® Aerosol) was applied. The buffalo was also administered with 12,000mg Betamox (Amoxicillin), 300mg Flumeg (Flunixin) and 50ml Butsal by IM route as well as 8ml Noromectin by SQ route
Reversal and prognosis
We reversed the buffalo from anaesthesia using 250mg of Naltrexone given by IM and IV route. Prognosis of this case is good. .
This case was reported by an informer at Central Beach area
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The zebra was darted using 5mg Etorphine Hcl plus 80mg Azaperone.
On examination the zebra had been wounded on right front leg. The wound was infected and suppurative. The injury was the cause of the severe lameness. The septic wound was cleaned with water and rinsed the same using tincture of Iodine. A fly repellent (Alamycin® Aerosol) was applied. The zebra was also administered with 9,000mg Betamox (Amoxicillin), 250mg Flumeg (Flunixin) and 40ml Butsal by IM route as well as 5ml Noromectin by SQ route
Reversal and prognosis
The zebra was reversed from the anaesthesia using 75mg Naltrexone given by IM and IV route. Prognosis of this case is good. .
Central Beach, Lake Naivasha
Human-Wildlife Conflict
Nairobi Community Area
A Black rhinoceros had strayed away from Nairobi NP for a least one month into a community area (Sheep& Goats area) – Kitengela community). This was a security threat to the rhino and emergency translocation was carried with necessary approval(s) to a safe area (Tsavo West NP)
Immobilisation and relocation
The rhino was searched for with the support of a helicopter in the Kitengala area and pushed to Sheep & Goats area, then darted in a open grassy plain from the helicopter with Etorphine and Azaperone.
The immobilized rhino was quickly put on sternal recumbency then rapidly administered intravenously 5mg Butorphanol plus 20mg Doxapram, to ensure stable and safe levels of anaesthesia The rhino’s respiration was supplemented with oxygen. Vital parameters were monitored and a top up of 2.5mg Butorphanol was carried to further stabilize the level of anaesthesia for loading manipulations. The rhino was blind-folded, and ears blocked with plugs to reduce capture stress. The rhino was ear tagged, and samples collected for the National Rhino Database. After reversal of anaesthesia the rhino was then loaded onto a translocation crate and lifted using a crane onto the transport lorry and transported the same day to Tsavo West NP. The rhino was safely released at IPZ – Rhino Valley area.
Elephant Bullet Wound
This case was reported by Olkinyei Conservancy through MEP.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
Olkinyei Conservancy
We darted the mother by driving the calf and mother from a dense forest using MEP Helicopter. We pushed away the calf using the helicopter and ensured the safety of the ground team by the same helicopter. The mother elephant was darted from the helicopter with 16mg Etorphine.
On examination the female elephant was suffering from four (4) communicating suppurative gunshot wounds to the left hind leg. The bullet wounds had caused severe injuries to the leg and severe lameness. The wounds were cleaned with water, cauterized with dilute hydrogen peroxide and rinsed with plenty of normal saline and tincture of Iodine. A fly repellant (Alamycin® Aerosol) was also applied. The elephant was adminster 15,000mg Betamox ®(Amoxicillin), 1,000mg Flumeg (Flunixin) and 80ml Butasal by IM route
Reversal and prognosis
We reversed the elephant from anesthesia using 250mg of Naltrexone given by IM and IV route. The calf was just waiting for the mother to wake up 50 meters away and they were successfully reunited. Prognosis of this case is guarded tending to poor. We advised closed monitoring of the injured elephant.
Natural Causes
This case was reported by Masai Mara NR Security Managers
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The lion was darted using 280mg Ketamine 10% plus 6mg Medetomidine.
On examination the lion had a puncture wound on the left front leg. The cause of the wound was bites from other lions or injury from prey. The wound was suppurative, infected and bleeding. We cleaned the septic wound using water and rinsed it with tincture of Iodine. A fly repellent (Alamycin® Aerosol) was applied.
The lion was also administered with 12,000mg Betamox (Amoxicillin), 250mg Flumeg (Flunixin) and 40ml Butsal by IM route as well as 5ml Noromectin by SQ route
Reversal and prognosis
We reversed the lion from anaesthesia using 25mg of Atipamizole given by IM route after one hour. Prognosis of this case is good. .
Simba area, Masai Mara NP
This case of a male zebra with a snare was reported by WRTI – Annex 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. The snare was removed and fortunately, the zebra had no injury and required no further treatment.
Reversal and prognosis
The zebra was reversed from the anaesthesia using 75mg Naltrexone given by IM and IV route. Prognosis of this case is good. .
Zebra Snared WRTI, Lake Naivasha
This case was reported by Elsmere Education Centre Staff
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This female zebra was darted using 5mg Etorphine Hcl plus 80mg Azaperone.
On examination the zebra had been snared by a long nylon rope around the neck. The snare was removed and fortunately, the zebra had no injury and required no further treatment.
Reversal and prognosis
The zebra was reversed from the anaesthesia using 75mg Naltrexone given by IM and IV route. Prognosis of this case is good. .
Zebra Snared Oserian, Naivasha
Soysambu Conservancy
We stumbled on this case while searching for injured giraffe calf
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This female zebra was darted using 5mg Etorphine Hcl plus 80mg Azaperone.
On examination the zebra had been snared and wounded by a wire on left hind leg. The wound was infected and bleeding. We cleaned the septic wound using water and rinsed the same using tincture of Iodine. A fly repellent (Alamycin® Aerosol) was applied.
The zebra was also administered with 12,000mg Betamox (Amoxicillin), 300mg Flumeg (Flunixin) and 40ml Butsal by IM route as well as 5ml Noromectin by SQ route.
Reversal and prognosis
The zebra was reversed from the anaesthesia using 75mg Naltrexone given by IM and IV route. Prognosis of this case is good. .
This case was reported by Marula Estates Security Staff
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This female zebra was darted using 5mg Etorphine Hcl plus 80mg Azaperone.
On examination the zebra had been snared and wounded by a wire on right front leg. The wound was bleeding. The wound was cleaned with water and tincture of Iodine then sprayed with a fly repellent (Alamycin® Aerosol).
The zebra was also administered with 18,000mg Alamycin (Oxytetracycline), 300mg Flumeg (Flunixin) and 40ml Butsal by IM route as well as 5ml Noromectin by SQ route.
Reversal and prognosis
The zebra was reversed from the anaesthesia using 75mg Naltrexone given by IM and IV route. Prognosis of this case is good. .
Zebra Snared Marula Estates, Naivasha
This case was reported by Marula Estates Security Staff
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This male zebra was darted using 5mg Etorphine Hcl plus 80mg Azaperone.
On examination the zebra had been snared and wounded by a nylon rope on left hind leg. The wound was infected and suppurative. The wound was cleaned with water and tincture of Iodine then sprayed with a fly repellent (Alamycin® Aerosol).
The zebra was also administered with 18,000mg Alamycin (Oxytetracycline), 300mg Flumeg (Flunixin) and 40ml Butsal by IM route as well as 5ml Noromectin by SQ route.
Reversal and prognosis
The zebra was reversed from the anaesthesia using 75mg Naltrexone given by IM and IV route. Prognosis of this case is good. .
Zebra Snared Marula Estates, Naivasha
This case was reported by Marula Estates Security Staff
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This male zebra was darted using 5mg Etorphine Hcl plus 80mg Azaperone.
On examination the zebra had been snared, but fortunately the wire snare had self - released. The zebra had suffered soft tissue injuries and showed severe lameness.
The zebra was administered with 300mg Flumeg (Flunixin) and 40ml Butsal by IM route as well as 5ml Noromectin by SQ route. Ivermectin was also pored on the coat to control tick infestation.
Reversal and prognosis
The zebra was reversed from the anaesthesia using 75mg Naltrexone given by IM and IV route. Prognosis of this case is good.
Zebra Snared Marula Estates, Naivasha
This case was reported by Marula Estates Manager
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The giraffe was darted using 15mg Etorphine Hcl plus 80mg Azaperone.
On examination the giraffe had been snared by a winch wire left front leg. The leg was swollen and had skin lacerations. We promptly retrieved the wire snare. We also administered the following;
• Alamycin ® LA 300 (Oxytetracycline 300mg/ml) injection 24,000mg by IM route
• Flumeg (Flunixin Meglumine 5%) 750 mg by IM route
Reversal and prognosis
The giraffe was quickly reversed from general anesthesia after it was roped down. The giraffe was administered 250mg of Naltrexone by IV route rapidly and then restrained manually by pinning the neck down. Prognosis of this case is good.
Giraffe Snared Marula Estates, Naivasha
