SWT/KWS Mara Veterinary Report for November 2019

SWT/KWS MARA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT NOVEMBER 2019

Introduction

8 Cases in November

4 Poaching Cases

3 Elephant Cases

November Report by Dr. Campaign Limo Good precipitation was witnessed during the month with heavy rainfall experienced towards the end of the month.

The area remains green due to the prevailing wet weather which has provided abundant food for most grazers. Water is also readily available in most areas within the Conservation area for all species to utilize.

Acknowledgement The Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit would like to acknowledge efforts put by different stakeholders towards intervention and rescue of various species that required help. Thanks to THE Minara Foundation through SWT for their continued facilitation of the unit. Thanks to KWS management for their technical support and partnership with other conservation partners which has resulted in many wildlife species being saved.

Case Details Date

Species

Area Found

06-Nov-19

Elephant

Siana Conservancy

13-Nov-19

Zebra

Reason for Intervention

Outcome

Snared

A severely swollen left front limb at the carpus with possible snare buried deep in the tissue

Poaching Death

Oloisukut Conservancy

Snared

This zebra was seen with a loose plain wire snare round his neck

Successfully Treated

Three Ruppell’s and two lappet faced vulture carcasses were found. Eight other vultures were found sick and struggling to fly Three Ruppell’s and two lappet faced vulture carcasses were found. Eight other vultures were found sick and struggling to fly An arrow lodged in the left side of the neck and a healed wound most likely caused by spearing

13-Nov-19

Other

Olkinyei Conservancy

Human Wildlife Conflict

13-Nov-19

Other

Olkinyei Conservancy

Human Wildlife Conflict

19-Nov-19

Giraffe

Olare Orok Conservancy

Arrow

25-Nov-19

Elephant

Olare Orok Conservancy

Arrow

A ruptured discharging abscess. This could have been caused by an arrow

Successfully Treated

26-Nov-19

Elephant

Kericho, Mau Forest

Collared

Collared to help monitor movements of crop raiding elephants

Task Successful

27-Nov-19

Rhino Black

Lake Nakuru NP

Postmortem

This black rhino (Wangui) was sadly found dead

Died

HWC Death

Successfully Treated Successfully Treated

SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations November 2019

. Case

1 – 6th November 2019

Elephant

Snared

Siana Conservancy

This calf was seen with a swollen left ankle by Elephant Aware Rangers. The Vet Unit found this small family of seven apart from the main herd (comprising of over 20 elephants) at the base of a rocky hill, drinking from a flowing seasonal stream. He could hardly walk from the pain.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The family, especially the mother, was very protective of him. The terrain was equally challenging and a helicopter was sought to keep the family at bay when the calf was darted. The calf was darted from a vehicle, and it took eight minutes for the drugs to take effect. The family members were very protective but were gently driven to a distance with the help of a helicopter. Examination revealed a tight wire snare buried deep within the left carpal joint with the knot partially visible anteriorly but otherwise the snare was completely buried in the joint. The wound was also septic. The snare was cut loose and the wound debrided with Hydrogen peroxide, disinfected with Iodine, rinsed with clean water. And packed with green clay This was a deep wound with the joint structures partially damaged. The snare could have been there for at least two months. The calf was also given Clindamycin antibiotics and Flunixin anti-inflammatories.

Prognosis The joint injuries caused by the snare were extensive. With damage to the joint ligaments and capsule, prognosis was considered guarded to poor. Ambulation because of this injury was limited and constant monitoring was advised for possible repeat treatment.

Case 2 – 13th November 2019 Zebra

Snared

Oloisukut conservancy

This zebra was seen by the Conservancy Rangers with a loose plain wire snare round his neck. They called the Mobile Veterinary Unit for help. This male was found grazing with other zebras close to a forest. The shiny wire snare could be seen from a distance. He appeared nervous when approached and headed towards a lighter part of the forest.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment Restraint was achieved with a combination of 5mgs Etorphine hydrochloride and 50mgs Azaperone delivered through a 1.5ml dan-inject dart from a vehicle. It took five minutes for the drugs to take full effect and the zebra assumed sternal recumbency. A blindfold was put in place so the wire snare could be loosened and removed. The snare could have been there for less than a week and had caused no injuries. No treatment was considered necessary and he was instantly reversed.

Prognosis The anaesthetic was reversed with 18mgs Diprenorphine administered intravenously through the jugular vein. He rose up one and half minutes after reversal to join the other zebras. Prognosis is good.

Case 3 & 4 – 13th November 2019 Vulture

Human Wildlife Conflict: Poison

Olkinyei Conservancy

A report of a spotted hyena and a number of vulture deaths was received by the Mobile Veterinary Unit from Rangers and Management of Olkinyei Conservancy. A quick visit to the Conservancy was made to confirm the situation and find a way forward.

Examination One completely devoured hyena carcass of unknown sex was found at the scene. The skull could only be traced with all other body tissues consumed. Three Ruppell’s and two Lappet faced vulture carcasses were also found. Eight other vultures were found sick and struggling to fly. They were restrained and crop contents removed by gentle massaging for reverse peristalsis. The regurgitates were taken as samples for toxicological analysis. Crop lavaging was also performed with Atropine antidote being given once every thirty minutes for the first one and half hours, then given once a day for the next two days for those severely affected.

Dexamethasone anti-inflammatory were also given to each of the vultures intramuscularly.

The samples will be submitted to government chemist for toxicological analysis.

Prognosis One Ruppell’s and one lappet faced vultures flew away late in the evening with one white backed succumbing overnight. The remainder of the vultures, four Ruppell’s and one lappet faced were kept and monitored over the next two weeks and were finally released in good condition within the area.

Case 5 – 19th November 2019 Giraffe

Arrow

Olare Motorogi Conservancy

This giraffe was seen with a lodged arrowhead by the Conservancy Rangers on their normal patrols. The Conservancy Warden called the Mobile Veterinary Unit for help. This giraffe was traced to a small thicket with other giraffes late in the evening. The arrow head was seen sticking from the left side of her neck but her overall body condition was good.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment Restraint was achieved with a combination of 12mgs Etorphine hydrochloride and 50mgs Azaperone tartarate delivered remotely through a 3ml dan-inject dart from a vehicle. It took eight minutes to take full effect then the teams roped down this adult giraffe. She was reversed immediately with 36mgs Diprenorphine to prevent compromise of vital physiological functions from anaesthesia. The giraffe was restrained physically for examination and treatment. Examination revealed an arrow lodged subcutaneously in the left side of the neck and a healed wound most likely caused by spearing just below the intact arrowhead. The arrowhead was removed, and both wounds, which did not appear septic, were debrided with Hydrogen peroxide, rinsed with clean water and disinfected with tincture of Iodine. Oxytetracycline wound spray was applied topically. The giraffe was also given Amoxicillin antibiotics and Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories.

Prognosis She was released, and rose up immediately to join the other giraffes Prognosis is good.

Case 6 – 25th November 2019 Elephant

Arrow

Olare Motorogi Conservancy

This adult female was seen with a swelling on the left side of her rump by the Conservancy Rangers on patrol.

They brought this to the attention of the Mobile Veterinary Unit through their Warden.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment This elephant was traced to a plain area at the edge of a hill having detached from the main herd which was up the hill numbering close to forty elephants. In her company were three other elephants assumed to be members of her family. This comprised of two calves and one adult female. Both adults were nursing therefore one of the claves was hers. She had a discharging abscess on her left rump.

Immobilization was achieved by darting her with 15mgs Etorphine hydrochloride from a vehicle and the elephant took nine minutes to be fully anaesthetized. She assumed right lateral recumbency. Examination revealed a ruptured discharging abscess. Probe on the abscess yielded no foreign object but it could have been caused by an arrow which had since fallen out.

The abscess was effectively drained and debrided with Hydrogen peroxide. It was then rinsed with clean water and tincture of Iodine. Oxytetracycline spray was applied topically before green clay was packed into the wound. The elephant was also given Amoxicillin antibiotics and Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories.

Prognosis Prognosis is good.

Case 7 – 26th November 2019 Elephant

Collaring

Kericho, Mau Forest

Recently, there have been reports of many elephant sightings within the Mau forest complex. Several herds are now occupying the forest and extending to sections where they werent found before. An interesting herd of about forty elephants was recently seen at the Kericho end of the forest where it borders tea plantations and other agricultural farms. Reports of crop raiding by elephants in this region are also being received. Mara Elephant Project teamed up with KWS management to deploy a collar on one of the elephants in this area to aid in monitoring and to guide ranger deployment and patrols.

Collaring Exercise Given that this is a forested area with challenging terrain, a helicopter was used to locate and dart the agreed candidate. The elephants were found towards the edge of the forest and a suitable female candidate was identified among the big herd of about forty elephants.

The elephant was darted with 16mgs Etorphine hydrochloride from a helicopter and the drugs took eight minutes to achieve full effect. The elephant assumed right lateral recumbency whilst the rest of the family was gently pushed aside to allow the teams an opportunity to deploy the collar. Stability of the elephant was confirmed and health status assessed before the collar was deployed.A VHF/GPS collar was fitted and tested before the elephant was revived.

Case 8 – 27th November 2019 Black Rhino

Post-mortem

Lake Nakuru

This black rhino christened ‘Wangui’ is one of the black rhinos in Lake Nakuru National Park making up a good breeding pool. She is reported to have been constantly spotted with her three year old calf christened ‘Monica’ (0665) occupying Block 6A within the park. Wangui was last seen together with her calf on the morning of 26th November 2019, but sadly found dead approximately 24hours later within her block. The calf stayed close to her dead mother briefly before being driven away to allow access to the carcass. Reports indicate she was an aggressive female but of late spent most of her time sleeping and in company of her female calf. The Park Management requested the services of the Mobile Veterinary Unit to link up with a veterinary team from KWS headquarters to establish possible causes of death.

Observations • • • • • • • • •

The carcass of this rhino was found about a 100m from the lake edge on the left side Both the front and the rear horns were intact.

Both lower and upper lips, the Perinium had been ripped off most likely by scavengers. The right ear had also been mauled Bony prominences were discernible, an indication this rhino was in a relatively poor condition and had a body score of 2.5 on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being poor and 5 being perfect).

Decubital sores were seen on her ventral abdomen and chest, likely from extended recumbency There were no signs of struggle before death at the scene An old but healed injury was seen on her left thorax, leaving a scar. An old but discharging shallow wound was seen on her left front leg distally near the carpus There was a mucoid discharge from her nostrils which was flowing freely Scanning with a sensitive metal detector was done on every part of the body before the carcass was opened but none were found

On opening the carcass, the following significant findings were noted; Integumentary system • The skin appeared dry and had lost its elasticity. This rhino appears to have been having chronic dehydration. The soles with the toes were intact Digestive system • The entire digestive tract was intact. The mucosa was intact and appeared to be functioning. There was evidence that this rhino had decreased appetite given the small amount of food in the stomach. The rectum also contained few faeces an indication that there was reduced feed intake Urinary system • No abnormalities were detected in the kidneys. However, the bladder was empty of urine possibly due to dehydration given that the carcass displayed signs of dehydration Circulatory system

•

There was evidence of anaemia with the aorta having very little blood. The heart chambers were normal but with scanty blood. The heart size with its muscles appeared normal

Respiratory system • The trachea was frothy with the right lung displaying increased emphysema apically. The bronchi of the left lung contained significant froth with clotted blood with notable congestion • Both lungs were grossly enlarged with signs of hypostatic pneumonia • The liver appeared normal in shape and consistency with congestion on the left side attributed to hypostasis. Spleen was normal in colour, shape and size Musculo -skeletal system • A deep wound with elliptical margin was found on the left foreleg just above the carpal joint with a dorsal course. The discharge was from an infection right into the bone marrow. The radio ulna had a longitudinal fracture exposing the marrow without significant displacement or comminution of the bones. This was considered as a septic compound fracture Cause of Death This rhino suffered a compound fracture to her left radioulnar bones with subsequent sepsis. The pain from the fracture restrained her movements and kept her lying down for most of the time. This resulted in other complications including decubital sores, hypostatic pneumonia. There was also disseminated sepsis from the fracture to other parts of the body including the lungs complicating the pneumonia acquired from recumbency. This rhino eventually died of cardiopulmonary complications from sepsis and prolonged recumbency, all these from the septic compound fracture. This injury was estimated to be two months old.

The cause of the fracture could not be established but differentials such as a blow from a pointed object on flight and a fight with other rhinos especially males during mating was considered.