Case Details
2-Mar-25 Waterbuck Mombasa Relocation
3-Mar-25 Elephant Tsavo East NP Spear
3-Mar-25 Elephant Kaluku Snared
This waterbuck was reported to have wandered off to a residential area in Nyali Successfully Treated
He had previously sustained a deep septic wound on the medial left radiocarpal joint Prognosis Poor
Examination revealed a cable wire snare that had inflicted a wound on the trunk Successfully Treated
6-Mar-25 Elephant Tsavo East NP Natural Causes Examination revealed a deep septic fight wound on the left rump area
6-Mar-25 Buffalo Tsavo East NP Snared
Treated
Examination revealed a winch wire snare on the neck Successfully Treated
7-Mar-25 Elephant Taita Ranches Natural Causes The bull was suspected to have suffered a fracture of the right femur Died
9-Mar-25 Eland Mombasa Arrow Examination revealed an arrow lodged in the thoracic area of the spine Successfully Treated
13-Mar-25 Elephant Taita Ranches Postmortem TMVU was requested to determine the cause of death of the elephant Died
15-Mar-25 Lion Tsavo West NP Postmortem
15-Mar-25 Elephant
Ranches Postmortem
East NP Spear
24-Mar-25 Elephant Tsavo East NP
A lion’s carcass was found and TMVU were requested to determine the cause of death Died
revealed a septic spear wound on the proximal left hind limb
deep septic arrow wound with an arrowhead in place
25-Mar-25 Zebra Shimba Hills Postmortem TMVU were requested to conduct a postmortem examination on the zebra Died
25-Mar-25 Antelope Shimba Hills Postmortem
27-Mar-25 Elephant Tsavo East NP Arrow
27-Mar-25
27-Mar-25
30-Mar-25
Tsavo East NP
East NP
Tsavo East NP
30-Mar-25 Elephant Tsavo East NP Arrow
TMVU were requested to conduct a postmortem examination on the impala Died
revealed a deep septic arrow wound on the left femoral area
a deep septic arrow wound on the left perineal area
a deep septic arrow wound on the inguinal area
revealed a septic arrow wound on the left flank area
Examination revealed a deep septic arrow wound on the femur of the right hind limb Successfully Treated
Case 3 – 3rd March 2025
Elephant Snared
Kaluku, Tsavo
This elephant was spotted by the SWT pilot during routine patrols in Kaluku area having a wound on the trunk suspected to have been caused by a snare.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This bull was successfully darted from a helicopter using 20mg Etorphine hydrochloride delivered remotely in a 3cc Dan inject dart, and it took 8 minutes for the drug to achieve its full effects.
Examination revealed a cable wire snare that had inflicted a wound on the trunk. The wire snare was immediately cut using wire cutters.
The wound was thereafter cleaned thoroughly with water and infused with tincture of Iodine and then topical antibiotic spray applied.
Reversal and prognosis
He was reversed from anaesthesia using 200mg of Naltrexone hydrochloride given intravenously via a prominent ear vein. He rose 3 minutes later. Prognosis is good.
Elephant Natural Causes
Taita Hills Sanctuary
This injured elephant was first treated on 9th February 2025 near the Saltlick Lodge. He had leg carrying lameness. The bull was suspected to have suffered a fracture of the right femur. He was given antiinflammatory medication and antibiotics parenterally and recommended for monitoring. The monitoring team noted that his condition was deteriorating and notified TMVU who responded immediately.
Immobilisation and examination
This injured bull was successfully immobilized using 20mg Etorphine hydrochloride delivered remotely in a 3cc Dan inject dart. Darting was done from foot, and it took 10 minutes for the drug to achieve its full effects. He was relocated away from the water point at the lodge to Tsavo West National Park. Examination revealed excessive soft tissue swelling and crepitus on the affected limb.
Prognosis and post-mortem
Since this elephant’s prognosis was grave, he was put to sleep on animal welfare grounds. This was executed immediately. Postmortem examination revealed that the bull had suffered a complete, comminuted middiaphyseal fracture of the humerus.
Eland Arrow
This eland was reported by the Haller Park team to have an arrow lodged in his back.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
He was successfully immobilized from a vehicle using 13mg Etorphine hydrochloride and 70mg Azaperone delivered remotely in a 3cc Dan inject dart. It took 7 minutes for the drugs to achieve its full effects.
Examination revealed an arrow lodged in the thoracic area of the spine. The arrow was surgically retrieved; the septic wound was thereafter cleaned and the pus evacuated from the wound. This was followed by flushing with Hydrogen peroxide, rinsing the wound thoroughly with water, infusing with tincture of Iodine, antibiotic cream and topical antibiotic spray application.
Additionally, he received shots of Amoxicillin antibiotics and flunixin parenterally.
Reversal and prognosis
He was reversed from anaesthesia using 130 mg of Naltrexone hydrochloride given intravenously via jugular vein. He rose 3 minutes later. Prognosis is good.
Haller Park, Mombasa
Elephant Postmortem
Taru Ranch, Taita Ranches
An elephant carcass was found on the morning of 15th March by KWS rangers in Taru ranch.
Postmortem examination
The cause of death could not be determined; the carcass had been dismembered by members of the public and parts carried away for consumption. .
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Elephant Spear Komboyo, Tsavo West
This injured elephant was spotted by the SWT pilot during patrols in with a wound on the left hind limb.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This bull was successfully immobilized using 18mg Etorphine hydrochloride delivered remotely in a 3cc Dan inject dart. Darting was done from a helicopter, and it took 15 minutes for the drug to achieve its full effects.
Examination revealed a septic spear wound on the proximal left hind limb. The wound was thoroughly cleaned and the pus evacuated from the wound. This was followed by flushing with Hydrogen peroxide and rinsing the wound thoroughly with water, the wound was thereafter infused with tincture of Iodine, packed with antibiotic pessaries and topical antibiotic spray applied.
Additionally, he received shots of amoxicillin antibiotics parenterally.
Reversal and prognosis
He was reversed from anaesthesia using 180 mg of Naltrexone hydrochloride given intravenously via jugular vein. He rose 3 minutes later Prognosis is good.
This injured elephant was spotted by KWS rangers at the area; he had a wound on his left flank
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This bull was successfully immobilized from a vehicle using 20mg Etorphine hydrochloride delivered remotely in a 3cc Dan inject dart it took 8 minutes for the drug to achieve its full effects.
Examination revealed a deep septic arrow wound. On probing the wound, a foreign body was found, the foreign body was retrieved carefully and positively identified to be an arrowhead. The wound was then thoroughly cleaned, debrided, flushed with Hydrogen peroxide and infused with tincture of iodine. The wound was thereafter packed with antibiotic pessaries, and a topical antibiotic spray was applied on the wound. He was additionally given Amoxicillin antibiotics and Flunixin anti-inflammatories parenterally.
Reversal and prognosis
He was reversed from anaesthesia using 180 mg of Naltrexone hydrochloride given intravenously via jugular vein. He rose 3 minutes later. Prognosis is good.
Satao, Tsavo East
Zebra
Postmortem
Shimba Hills
A zebra carcass was found on the morning of 25th March by KWS rangers in Shimba Hills National Reserve.
Postmortem examination
• The carcass was found on left lateral recumbency
• The carcass was fairly fresh
• There were multiple external injuries inflicted by other zebras during transit from Tsavo
• There were also septic bite wounds on both hocks
• The zebra seemed to be in fair body condition before death
• The carcass had multiple internal injuries
• Ingesta was found within the peritoneal cavity on opening the carcass
• Multiple peritoneal haematomas were also evident
Cause of death
It was concluded that the zebra succumbed to septic shock that resulted from peritonitis and multiple septic bite wounds.
Case
15 – 27th March 2025
Elephant Arrow
Aruba, Tsavo East
This injured elephant was spotted by KWS rangers and SWT pilot during routine patrols, he had a wound on his left hindlimb area.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This bull was successfully immobilized using 20mg Etorphine hydrochloride delivered in a 3cc Dan inject dart. Darting was done from a vehicle, and the elephant was under anaesthesia 8 minutes later.
Examination revealed a deep septic arrow wound on the left femoral area. The wound was thoroughly cleaned, debrided and flushed with Hydrogen peroxide then rinsed with clean water and infused with tincture of Iodine. The wound was thereafter packed with antibiotic pessaries, and a topical antibiotic spray was applied on the wound.
He was additionally given Amoxicillin antibiotics and Flunixin anti-inflammatories parenterally.
Reversal and prognosis
He was reversed from anaesthesia using 200mg of Naltrexone hydrochloride given intravenously via jugular vein. He rose 3 minutes later. Prognosis is good.
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Elephant Arrow Satao, Tsavo East
This elephant was reported to have a wound on his right hindlimb, inguinal area which was oozing pus.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This bull was successfully immobilized using 20mg Etorphine hydrochloride delivered remotely in a 3 cc Dan inject dart. Darting was done from a vehicle and it took 10 minutes for the drug to achieve its full effects.
Examination revealed a deep septic arrow wound on the inguinal area close to the medial surface of the right hindlimb. The wound was thoroughly cleaned and the pus evacuated from the wound. All devitalized tissues within the wound were removed, this was followed by flushing with Hydrogen peroxide and rinsing the wound thoroughly with water. Then the wound was infused with tincture of Iodine, packed with antibiotic pessaries and sprayed with topical antibiotic spray
Additionally, he received shots of Amoxicillin antibiotics and flunixin parenterally.
Reversal and prognosis
He was reversed from anaesthesia using 200mg of Naltrexone hydrochloride given intravenously via jugular vein. He rose 3 minutes later Prognosis is good.
