The conservation area received less precipitation during the month; however, most water pans are still full and both grazers and browsers had enough food. TMVU Responded to 13 cases, the majority of which were poaching cases involving elephants.
Acknowledgement
The Tsavo Mobile Veterinary Unit would like to appreciate all stakeholders who aided in monitoring and reporting of the cases that required veterinary intervention. A big thank you to KWS management for the technical support to the unit and the SWT for their continuous facilitation to the unit.
Case Details
4-May-25
5-May-25
9-May-25
10-May-25
10-May-25
West NP
revealed a septic spear wound on his right forelimb
deep penetrating septic spike wounds on all the four limbs
a deep septic arrow wound on the left flank area
deep septic arrow wound on the medial side of the proximal left forelimb
Treated 10-May-25
East NP Spear
revealed a deep septic spear wound on the right flank area
Treated
12-May-25 Waterbuck Mombasa HWC Three waterbucks were reported to have wandered off to a residential area Task Successful
13-May-25 Elephant
16-May-25 Elephant
17-May-25 Zebra
Tsavo East NP HWC Wandered into the community area in Ngiluni Task Successful
Tsavo West NP Natural Causes The bull had dislocated his right carpus a while ago which appeared to have healed Successfully Treated
Tsavo East NP Natural Causes An inflamed and stiff left fetlock joint which appeared to have healed
25-May-25 Elephant Tsavo East NP Spear A deep septic spear wound on the medial aspect of the right carpal joint
25-May-25 Giraffe
Tsavo West NP Natural Causes
An ulcerated papillomatous lesion on the left distal forelimb Successfully Treated
28-May-25 Elephant Shumba Valley Spear This calf was reported to have been recumbent for more than 24 hours. Poaching Death
May 2025
Case
Elephant Spear Ziwani, Tsavo West
This injured elephant was spotted limping on his right forelimb at Ziwani area by the SWT pilot during the routine patrols.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This bull was immobilized using 20mg Etorphine hydrochloride delivered remotely in a 3 cc Dan inject dart. Darting was done from the helicopter and it took 10 minutes for full anaesthesia to be achieved.
Examination revealed a septic spear wound on his right forelimb. The wound was thoroughly cleaned, debrided, flushed with Hydrogen peroxide, rinsed with clean water, infused with tincture of Iodine and then packed with antibiotic pessaries and a topical antibiotic spray was applied on the wound.
He was additionally given amoxicillin antibiotics and anti-inflamatories parenterally.
Prognosis
He was reversed from anaesthesia using 200mg Naltrexone hydrochloride given intravenously via a prominent ear vein. He rose few minutes later and slowly walked away. Prognosis is good.
Elephant Spike Mbuyuni, Tsavo West
This elephant was spotted by the SWT pilot during a routine patrol in Mbuyuni area wounded and limping.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This elephant was successfully immobilized using 200mg Etorphine delivered remotely in a 3 cc Dan inject dart; darting was done from the vehicle, and it took 8 minutes for the drug to achieve its full effects.
Examination revealed multiple deep penetrating septic spike wounds on all the four limbs. Most of the wounds were to the foot area and one on the knee joint of the right hind limb. The foot pads were partially chipped from the foot. The wounds were thoroughly cleaned and 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 Iiodine, packed with antibiotic pessaries and green clay, then sprayed with a topical antibiotic. Additionally, he received shots of amoxicillin antibiotics parenterally.
Prognosis
He was reversed from anaesthesia using 200mg Naltrexone hydrochloride given intravenously via a prominent ear vein. He rose few minutes later and slowly walked away Prognosis is fair.
Elephant Arrow Satao, Tsavo East
This elephant was spotted by the SWT pilot during routine patrols in Satao area with a wound on the abdominal area.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This bull was successfully immobilized from a vehicle using 20mg Etorphine hydrochloride delivered remotely in a 3cc Dan inject dart. Itand it took 8 minutes for full anaesthesia to be achieved.
Examination revealed a deep septic wound on the right-side abdominal area. An arrowhead was also discovered lodged in the abdominal muscles. The arrow was surgically retrieved then the septic wound was cleaned and the pus completely evacuated from the wound. This was followed by flushing with Hydrogen peroxide, rinsing thoroughly with water and infusing with Iodine. The wound was then packed with antibiotic pessaries, covered in green clay and sprayed with topical antibiotic spray Additionally, he received shots of amoxicillin antibiotics parenterally.
Prognosis
He was reversed from anaesthesia and he rose 3 minutes later and slowly walked away. Prognosis is good.
Elephant Arrow
Satao, Tsavo East
This injured elephant was spotted by the SWT pilot during patrols in Satao area (dika plain) with a wound on the left flank.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This bull was successfully immobilized from a helicopter using 20mg Etorphine hydrochloride delivered remotely in a 3cc Dan inject dart and it took 10 minutes for the drug to achieve its full effects.
Examination revealed a deep septic arrow wound on the left flank area. The wound was thoroughly cleaned and the pus removed 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.
Prognosis
He was reversed from anaesthesia using 200mg Naltrexone hydrochloride given intravenously via a prominent ear vein. He rose few minutes later and slowly walked away Prognosis is good
Case 5 – 10th May 2025
Elephant Arrow
Dakota, Tsavo East
This injured elephant was spotted by the SWT pilot during patrols in Dakota area injured and limping.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This bull was successfully immobilized using 20mg Etorphine hydrochloride delivered remotely in a 3cc Dan inject dart. Darting was done from helicopter and the elephant went down 8 minutes later.
Examination revealed a deep septic arrow wound on the medial side of the proximal left forelimb; a deep septic arrow wound on the medial aspect of the left carpal joint which on probing the wound, a foreign body was found, retrieved and positively identified to be an arrowhead. Another septic arrow wound was found on the lateral aspect of the right proximal forelimb.
All wounds were thoroughly cleaned, debrided, flushed with Hydrogen peroxide, rinsed with clean water and infused with tincture of Iodine. The wounds were thereafter packed with antibiotic pessaries and a topical antibiotic spray was applied on the wounds. He was additionally given Amoxicillin antibiotics parenterally.
Prognosis
He was reversed from anaesthesia, and he rose 3 minutes later and slowly walked away. Prognosis is good.
Case
Elephant Arrow
Dakota, Tsavo East
This injured elephant was spotted being wounded on the right flank in Dakota area by the SWT pilot. TMVU was notified and responded immediately.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This elephant was successfully immobilized using 21 mg Etorphine hydrochloride delivered in a 3cc Dan inject dart. Darting was done from the helicopter and it took 10 minutes for the drug to achieve its full effect.
He received a shot of dexamethasone intravenously and loaded on to the flatbed truck and relocated to Kaluku area.
Prognosis
He was reversed from anaesthesia using 200mg Naltrexone hydrochloride given intravenously via a prominent ear vein. He rose few minutes later and slowly walked away Prognosis is good
Waterbuck Human-Wildlife Conflict Bamburi Haller Park, Mombasa
Three waterbucks were reported by the haller park management to have wandered off to a residential area in Bombolulu. TMVU was notified and responded quickly to rescue the animals.
Immobilisation and relocation
They were successfully immobilized using 6.5 mg Etorphine hydrochloride and 40mg Azaperone delivered remotely in a 3cc Dan inject dart. Darting was done from foot and it took 7 minutes for the drugs to achieve its full effects.
The waterbucks were then loaded onto a vehicle and relocated back to Haller Park.
Reversal and prognosis
They were reversed from anaesthesia using 65mg Naltrexone hydrochloride given intravenously via the jugular vein. They rose 3 minutes later and ran into the bushes.
Human-Wildlife Conflict
Ngiluni, Tsavo East
This elephant was spotted and reported by SWT pilot and KWS rangers to have wandered into the community area in Ngiluni.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This elephant was successfully immobilized using 21mg Etorphine hydrochloride delivered in a 3cc Dan inject dart. Darting was done from the helicopter, and it took 10 minutes for the drug to achieve its full effect.
He received a shot of Dexamethasone intravenously then loaded on to the flatbed truck and relocated to Kaluku area.
Prognosis
He was revived from narcosis using 210 mg Naltrexone hydrochloride given intravenously via a prominent ear vein. He rose and slowly walked away 3 minutes later. Prognosis is good.
Elephant Natural Causes Kangechwa, Tsavo West NP
This injured elephant was spotted limping on his right forelimb at Kangechwa area by the SWT pilot.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This bull was immobilized from a helicopter using 19mg Etorphine hydrochloride delivered remotely in a 3cc Dan inject dart. It took 10 minutes for full anaesthesia to be achieved.
Examination revealed that the bull had dislocated his right carpus a while ago which appeared to have healed.
He received shots of Amoxicillin antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory parenterally.
Reversal and prognosis
He was reversed from anaesthesia using 190mg Naltrexone hydrochloride given intravenously via a prominent ear vein. He rose few minutes later and walked away into the bushes. Prognosis is good.
Case
10 – 17th May 2025
Zwbra Natural Causes Dika Plains, Tsavo East NP
This zebra was spotted by TMVU veterinary team in Dika plains limping on his left hindlimb.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
He was successfully immobilized using a combination of 6mg Etorphine hydrochloride and 60mg Azaperone delivered remotely in a 3cc Dan inject dart. Darting was done from the vehicle, and it took 7 minutes for the drugs to achieve its full effects.
Examination revealed an inflamed and stiff left fetlock joint which appeared to have healed.
He was given shots of Amoxicillin antibiotic and anti-inflammatory parenterally.
Reversal and prognosis
He was reversed from anaesthesia using 60mg of Naltrexone hydrochloride given intravenously via the jugular vein. He rose 3 minutes later and joined the other zebras. Prognosis is good.
Case
Elephant Spear Irima, Tsavo East NP
This elephant was spotted by the SWT pilot during routine patrols in Irima area limping on his right forelimb.
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 the vehicle and it took 8 minutes for the drug to achieve its full effects.
Examination revealed a deep septic spear wound on the medial aspect of the right carpal joint.
The wound was thoroughly cleaned with water, Hydrogen peroxide, rinsed and infused with tincture of Iodine. The wound was thereafter packed with antibiotic pessaries and sprayed with a topical antibiotic.
He also received shots of Amoxicillin antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory parenterally.
Reversal and prognosis
intravenously via the ear vein. He rose 3 minutes later and walked away. Prognosis is fair
Case 12 – 25th May 2025
Giraffe Natural Causes Komboyo, Tsavo West
This giraffe was spotted by visitors at the park being injured and limping on his left forelimb. TMVU was informed and responded immediately.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This giraffe was successfully immobilized using 13mg Etorphine hydrochloride and 6omg Azaperone delivered remotely in a 3cc Dan inject dart. Darting was done from the helicopter and it took 8 minutes for the drug to achieve its full effects.
Examination revealed an ulcerated papillomatous lesion on the left distal forelimb. The wound was cleaned with water and all maggots removed, flushed with Hydrogen peroxide and disinfected using tincture of Iodine. He was additionally given Amoxicillin antibiotic parenterally.
Prognosis
He was revived using 130mg Naltrexone hydrochloride given intravenously via the jugular vein. He rose 3 minutes later and walked away. Prognosis is fair.
Case
Elephant
Postmortem
Shumba Valley
A recumbent elephant calf was spotted on the morning 28th May 2025 by KWS and SWT rangers in Dena dam (Shumba Valley). This calf was reported to have been recumbent for more than 24 hours. TMVU was requested to attend to the calf but unfortunately the calf had succumbed by the time the team arrived.
Postmortem examination
The male elephant was found on left lateral recumbency. The carcass was fairly fresh; less than a day old.
There was a deep fresh spear wound on the cervical area. Bone fragments from the axis were retrieved from the wound.
Both tusks were intact and were taken by the KWS team for safekeeping.
Cause of death
It was concluded that the recumbency was as a result of spinal nerve damage. Death resulted from complications associated with prolonged recumbency in elephants.
