SWT/KWS Masai Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit Report - June 2019

SWT/KWS MASAI MARA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT JUNE 2019

Introduction

5 Cases in June

2 Poaching Cases

80% Success

June Report by Dr. Campaign Limo

The month was characterised by moderate to high precipitation with both forage and water becoming increasingly abundant by use by wildlife. Annual migration of wildebeests has already begun with a number of wildebeests roaming within the conservation area having crossed the border from the Serengeti.

Some of the cases handled include autopsy of an adult elephant cow which succumbed to renal complications from ascending infection and retrieval of arrowheads from an adult female elephant whose family was attacked after crossing into a farming community, among other cases.

The following report describes all the cases handled during the period; Acknowledgement Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit would like to acknowledge and appreciate support given to them by various stakeholders who reported and participated during assistance to the animals in need of help. Thanks to Minara Foundation through The SWT for the facilitation to the unit. Thanks to KWS management for their guidance and technical support.

Case Details Date

Species

Area Found

Reason for Intervention

Outcome

08-Jun-19

Elephant

Olarro Conservancy

Postmortem

Was seen the previous evening walking slowly. She was found dead at night fall

Died

09-Jun-19

Elephant

Mara Triangle

Arrow

Arrow inflicted injuries with two arrowheads retrieved

Successfully Treated

11-Jun-19

Elephant

Olarro Conservancy

Spear

An old spear wound which was septic on his right flank.

Successfully Treated

12-Jun-19

Lion

Olare Orok Conservancy

Natural Causes

Injured right testicle which was already exposed caused by territorial fights

Successfully Treated

22-Jun-19

Cheetah

Mara Triangle

Collared

Rescued cheetahs ready for release into the wild were fitted with collars

Task Successful

SWT/KWS Masai Mara Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations June 2019

Case 1 – 8th June 2019 Elephant

Post-mortem

Olarro Conservancy

This elephant with her two calves, one estimated to be about two years and the other one over five years was seen the previous evening walking slowly into a small bush. She was later found dead at night fall. Her calves stood by briefly before leaving later on.

General Observation and Examination This elephant appeared to have been in a perfect condition before death with no signs of struggle. Apart from a swollen rear ventral abdomen and partially prolapsed vulva, no other anomaly was evident externally.

Both tusks were intact and were subsequently retrieved and handed over to KWS • • • • • • • •

• •

The muscle cover was adequate with expected amount of fat distribution There were blood stains on the left nasal cavity, this being expected post-mortem change from dissolution of blood vessel structures after death The liver was normal in consistency and colour The heart was normal in architecture and size with chambers partially evacuated.

Lungs were slightly congested otherwise normal in shape and size. Extensive petechiae was evident subcutaneously Spleen was slightly engorged with increased dark spots There was subcutaneous oedema on the posterior ventral abdomen, extending cranially up to the umbilicus The vulva was partially prolapsed, swollen with clear fluid dripping. The mucosa of the vulva and vagina were swollen with almost occluded lumen with white flakes and slight purulent discharge that could be traced to the urethra. There were notable injuries within vaginal mucosa Both kidneys appeared enlarged and congested No other anomaly could be detected grossly.

Cause of Death From the post-mortem picture shown, this elephant died of renal complications. This problem could have been caused by an ascending infection along the urethra compromising the renal functions with poor waste excretion and accumulation.

Case 2 – 9th June 2019 Elephant

Arrow

Mara Triangle, Masai Mara

This elephant was seen with stiff hind legs and an arrowhead protruding from her rump. Other injuries were seen on her left hind leg, near her backline. This herd of ten elephants had been attacked with arrows a week earlier after crossing the Mara River into farming community. However, the team monitoring them lost sight of them as they fled, but they appeared within the Mara Triangle Conservancy a week later.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment It took seven minutes for the anaesthetic drugs to take full effect. The matriarch was very protective and tried to prevent the attending team from accessing the now recumbent patient. She eventually gave up and left after persuasion to move by persistently driving close to her and the immobilised elephant.

Examination revealed arrow inflicted injuries distributed across the body and two arrowheads were retrieved. One arrowhead was cranial to her right rump and another one buried deep behind her left thigh.

All the wounds were becoming septic. After removing the arrowheads, all the wounds were cleaned with Hydrogen peroxide, gauze swabs, clean water and Iodine. Green clay was then packed into the wound to absorb toxins and hasten healing then Oxytetracycline spray applied topically. Other treatments given include parenteral administration of Amoxicillin antibiotics and Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories.

Prognosis She woke up three minutes after reversal of the anaesthetic to join her herd. Prognosis is good.

Case 3 – 11th June 2019 Elephant

Spear

Olarro Conservancy

This big elephant bull in company of another four bulls was seen within the Conservancy with a suppurating wound on his right flank by Olarro Conservancy Rangers who notified the Mobile Veterinary Team for action.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment He was approached with a vehicle and darted so he could be examined and treated. Vehicles were used to keep him in a relatively open area. It took ten minutes for the drugs to take full effect and he fell onto his left side. After confirming, he was stable, close examination revealed an old spear wound which was septic on his right flank.

The wound was probed for foreign objects, but none were found. All the necrotic tissue was removed, and the wound debrided with Hydrogen peroxide and rinsed with clean water. Tincture of iodine was used for disinfection and green clay packed into the wound to prevent further sepsis and absorb toxins.

Oxytetracycline antibiotic wound spray was also applied topically.

He was also given Amoxicillin antibiotics and Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories.

Prognosis The anesthetic was reversed with 42mgs Diprenorphine hydrochloride intravenously through a prominent ear vein. He woke up in four minutes and moved towards where the other bulls were. Prognosis is good.

Case 4 – 12th June 2019 Lion

Natural Causes

Olare Orok Conservancy

This adult male, in the company of an equally big male thought to be his brother, was first seen by Olare Motorogi Rangers within their Conservancy with an exposed and hanging right testicle. He appeared restless and in pain. They called the Mobile Veterinary Unit for attention and notified the Reserve Management as these lions were heading towards the Masai Mara National Reserve.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment He was traced to a small thicket and was still with his brother. He was very shy and took cover, hiding in the thicket when approached with the vehicle. Finally, a small chance presented for darting which was successful.

It took seven minutes for the drugs to take full effect and he assumed sternal recumbency.

When he was fully anesthetised, it was confirmed he was stable, a blindfold was placed over his eyes and the examination was conducted which revealed an injured right testicle that was already exposed. The injury was caused by territorial fights with other males and was about three days old. The hanging testicle was surgically removed, bleeders ligated and the whole area disinfected. Cloxacillin antibiotic ointment was applied into the wound and Oxytetracycline spray applied topically. Additional treatments given include parenteral administration of Amoxicillin antibiotics and Ivermectin parasiticide.

Prognosis The treatment lasted one hour, and he woke up in 10 minutes to join his brother. Prognosis is good.

Case 5 – 22nd June 2019 Cheetah

Collaring

Mara Triangle

These cheetahs were found alone only a month old near Keekorok lodge within the Masai Mara National Reserve. The Reserve rangers monitored them daily hoping that the mother would reappear but after a week of close monitoring, it was evident they were orphans. By this time, they were becoming weak and likely to die from starvation. There was also the risk of losing them to predation. After consultation between KWS, Narok County Government and other stakeholders they were rescued and taken to the Mara Triangle Conservancy where they were kept in confinement briefly but with minimum human interaction. They were then taken to a bigger enclosure mimicking the wild with almost no human interaction apart from feeding.

The plan was to release them into the wild and continue to monitor them using Satellite/GSM Collars Immobilisation and collaring They were darted from foot with similar dosages of Medetomidine and Ketamine as they were similar in size.

The first to be captured and fitted with the collar was the male. The female was immobilized one hour later after the male was finished and the anaesthetic reversed. Once anesthetised, morphometric and physiological parameters were measured and when the team was satisfied, they were in good condition, the collars were fitted. Soundness of the collars were confirmed before the cheetahs were revived. The anaesthetic was reversed and they both woke up within four minutes of reversal and stabilized within nine minutes. They will be monitored in this semi captive environment for the next two weeks before being released into the wild.