SWT/KWS Rift Valley Veterinary Unit Report for May 2025
SWT/KWS RIFT VALLEY MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT
May Report by Dr.
Titus Kaitho
The Unit attended to 9 cases in May. The majority of these were snare injuries (6) involving zebra, buffalo, hyena and warthog. The Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Unit visited the following areas; Olerai – Sirocco Wildlife Conservancy, Conservation Area offices - Nakuru, Lake Nakuru NP, Hells Gate NP, Kiborgoch Conservancy - Lake Bogoria, Color Crops farm, Soysambu Conservancy, Muthu Naivasha Country Club, Carnley’s – Moi South Road, Nightgale Farm, Ruma NP, (Oserengoni Wildlife Sanctuary) among other areas.
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
10-May-25 Hyena Lake Nakuru NP Snared The hyena had been snared and wounded by a wire on the neck
11-May-25 Zebra Lake Bogoria Snared
11-May-25 Buffalo Soysambu Conservancy Snared
12-May-25 Buffalo Naivasha Snared
13-May-25 Zebra Naivasha HWC
14-May-25 Buffalo Naivasha Snared
19-May-25 Giraffe Soysambu Conservancy Relocation
23-May-25 Warthog Naivasha Snared
The male zebra had been snared and wounded by a long-barbed wire on neck Successfully Treated
The male buffalo had been snared and wounded by a wire on the left front leg
On examination the female buffalo had been snared by a wire on the neck Successfully Treated
The zebra had been wounded by barbed wire fence on the right hind leg Successfully Treated
On examination the buffalo had been wounded by a wire snare on right hind leg Poaching Death
Solai Wildlife Sanctuary is a safe haven for Rothschild’s giraffes Solai Wildlife Sanctuary obtained approval for translocation of 8 more Rothschild’s giraffes to increase the population Taken to Orphanage
The warthog had been wounded by a winch wire on the left front leg Successfully Treated
27-May-25 Rhino White Ruma NP Natural Causes Trypanosomosis plus other hemoparasites infection Prognosis Poor
SWT/KWS Rift Valley Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations
May 2025
Case 1 – 10
May 2025
This case was reported by Lake Elementaita Bird Sanctuary staff
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The hyena had been trapped by the PAC team at Karura community area, near Lake Elementaita Bird Sanctuary. The hyena was darted using 200mg Ketamine Hcl plus 4mg Medetomidine.
On examination the hyena had been snared and wounded by a wire on the neck. The wound was suppurative and maggot infested. We cleaned the wound using water and rinsed it with tincture of Iodine. A fly repellent (Alamycin Aerosol) was applied. We also administered the following;
• Betamox (Amoxicillin Trihydrate 150mg/ml) injection 9,000mg by IM route
• Colvasone (Dexamethasone) 4mg by IM route
• Noromectin (Ivermectin) 5mL by SQ route
• Butasal 40mL by IM route
Relocation, revival and prognosis
We reversed the hyena from anaesthesia using 25mg of Atipamizole given by IM after one hour. Prognosis
Hyena Snared Nakuru
Zebra Snared
This case was reported by KWS Kabarnet Station
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
Lake Bogoria
This zebra was darted using 5mg Etorphine plus 80mg Azaperone. On examination the male zebra had been snared and wounded by a long-barbed wire on neck. The zebra had also suffered wounds on both hind and front leg caused by the snare. The wounds were infected and bleeding. We cleaned the infected wounds using water and rinsed the same using tincture of Iodine. A fly repellent (Alamycin® Aerosol) was applied.
We also administered the following;
• Betamox (Amoxicillin Trihydrate 150mg/ml) injection 9,000mg by IM route
• Flumeg (Flunixin Meglumine 5%) 250 mg by IM route
• Noromectin 1% w/v (Ivermectin) 5mL by SQ route
• Butasal 40mL by IM route
Prognosis
We reversed the zebra from anaesthesia using 75mg Naltrexone given by IM and IV route. Prognosis is good.
Buffalo Snared
This case was reported by Soysambu Conservancy Security Manager.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
Soysambu Conservancy
This buffalo was darted using 9mg Etorphine plus 80mg Azaperone.
On examination the male buffalo had been snared and wounded by a wire on the left front leg. The wound was bleeding and inflamed. We cleaned the septic wound using water and rinsed the same using tincture of iodine. A fly repellent (Alamycin Aerosol) was applied.
We also administered the following;
• Betamox (Amoxicillin Trihydrate 150mg/ml) injection 12,000mg by IM route
• Flumeg (Flunixin Meglumine 5%) 500 mg by IM route
• Noromectin 1% w/v (Ivermectin) 10mL by SQ route
• Butasal 60mL by IM route
Prognosis
Prognosis is good.
Case
4 – 12th May 2025
This case was reported by Colour Crops farm staff
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This buffalo was darted using 8mg Etorphine plus 80mg Azaperone.
On examination the female buffalo had a wire snare around the neck. The wire snare had inflicted minor lacerations to the neck which were cleaned and sprayed with an antibiotic spray
Prognosis
Prognosis is good. .
Buffalo Snared
Colour Crops Farm, Naivasha
This case was reported by KWS Naivasha Station
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The zebra was darted using 5mg Etorphine Hcl plus 80mg Azaperone. On examination the zebra had been wounded by a barbed wire fence on the right hind leg. The wound was infected and suppurative. The swollen leg was the cause of severe lameness. We cleaned the septic wound using water and rinsed the same with tincture of Iodine. A fly repellent (Alamycin Aerosol) was also applied.
We also administered the following;
• Betamox (Amoxicillin Trihydrate 150mg/ml) injection 9,000mg by IM route
• Flumeg (Flunixin Meglumine 5%) 250 mg by IM route
• Noromectin® 1% w/v (Ivermectin) 5mL by SQ route
• Butasal 40mL by IM route
Prognosis
Prognosis is good.
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This case was reported by Sirocco Wildlife Conservancy staff
Immobilisation and examination
The buffalo was darted using 8mg Etorphine Hcl plus 80mg Azaperone.
On examination the buffalo had been wounded by a wire snare on right hind leg. The wounded leg was suppurative and the leg had suffered a closed comminuted phalangeal I fracture.
Prognosis and management
The case had a poor prognosis. The buffalo was put to rest.
Buffalo Snared Sirroco Wildlife Sanctuary
Case
Giraffe
Relocation
Soysambu Conservancy
Solai Wildlife Sanctuary is a safe haven for several endangered Rothschild’s giraffes. To augment and make this meta population viable, Solai Wildlife Sanctuary obtained approval from KWS for translocation of 8 more Rothschild’s giraffes. After vigorous assessment and fact finding, Soysambu Wildlife Conservancy was established as a potential source site of the giraffes. This exercise was aimed at translocating 8 Rothschild giraffes to improve genetic diversity and numbers of the existing giraffe population in Solai Wildlife Sanctuary.
Immobilisation
The giraffes were darted using a combination of Etorphine Hcl and Azaperone in a single dart delivered by a Dan inject dart rifle. The average induction time was 8 minutes. Giraffes were gently brought to the ground by roping and general anaesthesia was quickly reversed by intravenous injection of Naltrexone hydrochloride for full reversal.
The giraffe was quickly blind folded, ear plugged and physically restrained by holding its neck on the ground. A physical examination was carried out and blood and faecal samples were obtained from all immobilized giraffes. They were also given Butasal 40mL by IM route.
Relocation
Guiding ropes were placed and the physical restrain was released so the giraffes could be skillfully directed into the loading trolley/crate which was then towed using a farm tractor and loaded onto a canter truck. The giraffes were released into the wildlife Sanctuary immediately after translocation. All 8 giraffes were successfully relocated and should do well in their new environment.
Acknowledgement
We sincerely thank Kenya Wildlife Service Management for planning and prompt approvals of this translocation activity. Kenya Wildlife Service provided equipment, machinery, drugs, vehicles and personnel for this work. Soysambu Wildlife Conservancy is hereby acknowledged for hosting the Wildlife, Vet and Capture teams during the exercise. We highly appreciate the effort and hard work of this great team.
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Warthog Snared Moi South Lake Road, Naivasha
This case was reported by Carnely’s manager
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The warthog was darted using 4mg Etorphine Hcl plus 30mg Azaperone.
On examination the warthog had been snared and wounded by a winch wire on the left front leg. The wound was infected and suppurative. The swollen leg was the cause of severe lameness. The wound was cleared with water and rinsed with Iodine, then sprayed with a fly repellent (Alamycin® Aerosol).
The warthog was also given 3,000mg Betamox (Amoxicillin) and 100mg Flumeg (Flunixin).
Reversal and prognosis
We reversed the warthog from anaesthesia using 75mg of Naltrexone given by IM and IV route. Prognosis of this case is good.
This report describes examination and treatment of one (1) male white rhino calf at Ruma National Park.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The white rhino was darted using 2mg Etorphine Hcl plus 40mg Azaperone. We stabilized anaesthesia on knock down with 5mg of Butorphanol plus 20mg Doxapram given rapidly by IV route.
The rhino had several septic wounds which were cleaned with water and rinsed with Iodine. A fly repellent (Alamycin® Aerosol) was applied. The rhino was then given 9,000mg Betamox (Amoxicillin Trihydrate 150mg/ml), 250mg Flumeg (Flunixin) and 40ml Butusal by IM route and 5ml Noromectin by SQ route.
In the process we ear notched the white rhino calf and named him Timo. We controlled haemorrhage from bleeders by clamping and ligation then sprayed them with fly repellent.
